BRIDGE

BRIDGE

East-West vulnerable, East deals.

NORTH

xA 9 3 2

u2

vQ J 7 4

wA K 9 5

WEST EAST

xK J 4 xQ 6

uA Q 10 8 u9 7 6 4

vK 8 3 v10 9 5 2

w10 7 6 wJ 8 4

SOUTH

x10 8 7 5

uK J 5 3

vA 6

wQ 3 2

The bidding:

EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH

Pass Pass 1u Dbl

Pass 2x Pass 4x

All pass

Opening lead: Seven of w

The opening club lead was won in dummy with the ace to lead a heart to the jack and queen. West continued with the 10 of clubs, won in dummy with the king. South cashed the ace of trumps and led a club to his queen.

South exited with a low trump to West’s jack and East’s queen. East shifted to a diamond. The king of diamonds had to lie with West, so declarer rose with the ace and ruffed a heart in dummy, leaving this position:

NORTH

x9

uVoid

wQ J 7

w9

WEST EAST

xK xVoid

uA 10 u9 7

vK 8 w9 5 2

wVoid wVoid

SOUTH

x10 8

uK 5

v6

wVoid

South led dummy’s nine of clubs and discarded his remaining diamond. This lovely end position finds West skewered in all three suits. Should he ruff, he is end-played and forced to set up a red winner for declarer. A diamond discard lets declarer ruff out the king, and a heart discard will allow South to cross-ruff the next three tricks for his contract, losing only the king of spades in the end.

The contract could have been defeated had West risen with his king of trumps rather than playing the jack. He could then have drawn another trump. This defensive play has a name -- the Crocodile Coup, where the jaws of the croc open wide to swallow partner’s honor.

2016 Tribune Content Agency