BRIDGE

BRIDGE

Neither vulnerable, West deals

NORTH

xA K 8 6 4

uA 8

vK 2

w10 8 4 3

WEST EAST

xQ 2 xJ 10 5 3

uQ 6 4 2 uJ 7 3

vA 10 8 v9 6 5

wA Q 9 5 wJ 6 2

SOUTH

x9 7

uK 10 9 5

vQ J 7 4 3

wK 7

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

1w 1x Pass 1NT

Pass 2NT Pass 3NT

All pass

Opening lead: Two of u

Young Michal Klukowski, of Poland, is in his early 20s and has won two World Championships already, the first when he was 19 years old. He was South in today’s deal.

North was looking through rose-colored glasses when he raised to two no trump. Most would have thought that one no trump was high enough. Perhaps he just wanted to watch his partner bring home a tough one. Klukowski won the opening heart lead with dummy’s ace in order to preserve an entry to his hand. Dummy’s king of diamonds was allowed to hold the next trick, and Klukowski made the farsighted play of cashing dummy’s ace and king of spades before leading a diamond to his queen.

West won with his ace of diamonds and exited safely with his last diamond. South cashed his three diamond tricks, reaching this position:

NORTH

xVoid

u8

vVoid

w10 8 4 3

WEST EAST

xVoid xJ 10

uQ 6 4 uJ 7

vVoid vVoid

wA Q w6

SOUTH

xVoid

uK 10 9

vVoid

wK 7

Klukowski, with seven tricks in the bag, read the position perfectly. He exited with the king of clubs! West was forced to lead hearts again, allowing declarer to build another trick in that suit. Nice play, kid! The defense might have prevailed had both defenders kept three clubs in the end position, but that was very hard to see.

2016 Tribune Content Agency