BRIDGE

BRIDGE

North-South vulnerable, East deals.

NORTH

x9 8 3

uA 8 7 6 3

vK

wA 9 8 6

WEST EAST

x6 5 xA Q J 10

uJ 9 uQ 10 5 4

v10 9 8 7 4 3 vQ J 2

wQ 5 3 w7 4

SOUTH

xK 7 4 2

uK 2

vA 6 5

wK J 10 2

The bidding:

EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH

1w Pass 1v Pass

1u Dbl 2v 2u

Pass 2x Pass 3w

Pass 3v Pass 3u

Pass 3NT All pass

Opening lead: 10 of v

Today’s deal is from an important pairs competition in 1998. South was the great English player, Tony Forrester. The Polish East-West pair started with two artificial bids. The auction was essentially natural thereafter, but it was hard work to get to game after that start. Forrester had to make this contract in order to win the event.

Forrester won the opening diamond lead in dummy perforce, as East unblocked the queen. Forrester naturally played the opening bidder for the queen of clubs, so he got off to a bad start when he cashed the ace of clubs and played a club to his jack. Forrester ducked when West now led a diamond to East’s jack. East saw that it was pointless to continue diamonds, but he didn’t see that it was essential to switch to hearts. East tried the queen of spades instead and Forrester was in with the king.

Forrester cashed his two good clubs and the ace of diamonds. East had to make two discards and could only afford one heart before he had to discard a spade. Forrester exited with the four of spades to East’s jack. East shifted to hearts, but it was too late. Forrester won the heart in dummy and led another spade. East won with the ace, South following with the seven, and led another heart. Forrester won with the king of hearts and produced the carefully preserved two of spades for his ninth trick.

2016 Tribune Content Agency