BRIDGE

BRIDGE

Both vulnerable, South deals

NORTH

x7

u9 5 3

vA 10 8 5 4

wJ 8 7 5

WEST EAST

xA 9 6 5 2 x10 4

uQ 7 6 uK 8 2

v2 vQ 9 7 6 3

w9 6 4 2 wQ 10 3

SOUTH

xK Q J 8 3

uA J 10 4

vK J

wA K

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

2w Pass 2v Pass

2NT Pass 3NT All pass

Opening lead: Five of x

Many would have opened the South hand with one spade, which might have ended the auction on this layout. We see a lot of merit in South’s chosen sequence.

The opening spade lead went to the 10 and king. Eyeing the nine of hearts as a potential dummy entry, South exited with the jack of hearts to East’s king. East shifted to a low diamond, won by South with the jack. Next came the 10 of hearts, but West won the queen of hearts and returned his last heart before South had a chance to unblock the king of diamonds. An early unblock would have left South vulnerable to club leads.

Declarer won this in his hand, cashed the long heart, and led the queen of spades. West captured this with the ace and shifted to a club -- low, 10, king. This was the position:

NORTH

xVoid

uVoid

vA 10

wJ 8 7

WEST EAST

x9 6 2 xVoid

uVoid uVoid

vVoid vQ 9 7

w9 4 wQ 3

SOUTH

xJ 8 3

uVoid

vK

wA

It looked desperate for declarer, but things came to life when South cashed the king of diamonds. West could not let go of a spade, so he shed a club. South seized the moment by cashing the ace of clubs and exiting with a low spade. West was forced to lead a spade back into declarer’s jack-eight and the result was a magical nine tricks!

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