BRIDGE

BRIDGE

Both vulnerable, East deals

NORTH

xQ 10

uQ 9 8 6 4

vQ 5 4

w9 6 4

WEST EAST

x7 6 5 4 xK 9

uA K 7 2 uJ 10 3

vJ 8 6 2 vVoid

wA wK Q J 8 7 5 3 2

SOUTH

xA J 8 3 2

u5

vA K 10 9 7 3

w10

The bidding:

EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH

1w 1v Dbl- 2v

4w 5v Dbl All pass

-Negative, values with no clear bid

Opening lead: Ace of w

In the last year, a pair from the small island country of New Caledonia has been making a name for themselves at tournaments in the Pacific region. One of them, Herve Cheval, was South in today’s deal.

West was expecting a juicy penalty as he led the ace of clubs. East knew that the lead was either a singleton or would be ruffed by declarer. East played the king of clubs under the ace as a suit-preference signal, indicating that his side strength was in spades, the higher ranking of the two remaining non-trump suits. East was hoping that West held the spade ace. West duly shifted to a spade, which went to the queen, king, and ace.

Cheval cashed the ace of diamonds, discovering the 4-0 split, and then ran the 10 of diamonds. A trump to the queen left him in dummy needing to find an entry back to his hand to draw the jack of trumps. A club would have been instantly fatal, and he could not overtake the 10 of spades without promoting West’s seven of spades into a trick.

Cheval found a brilliant solution by leading the queen of hearts from the dummy! There was no entry to the East hand for a trump promotion. South could win any return from West, draw the last trump, unblock the spades, and claim his contract. West’s dream of a juicy penalty had turned into a nightmare.

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