BRIDGE

BRIDGE

Both vulnerable, South deals.

NORTH

xA K Q 8

uK J 10

vK 9 6 2

wQ 3

WEST EAST

x10 xJ 7 6 4

uQ 9 6 2 u5 3

v8 7 5 4 v10 3

wK J 8 6 w10 9 7 5 4

SOUTH

x9 5 3 2

uA 8 7 4

vA Q J

wA 2

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1NT Pass 6NT All pass

Opening lead: Seven of v

North-South did well to avoid their 4-4 spade fit on this deal. North just used his abacus to add the combined points and made the bid in front of his nose. Not very patient, but like we said, just as well. South can make six spades, but the play would be tricky with the 4-1 trump split.

South won the opening diamond lead with the jack and stopped to plan the play. As long as the spades split 3-2, the percentage split, South could make his contract even with a heart loser. Declarer still wanted to make his best play in hearts, which is playing West for the queen. He can take four heart tricks whenever West holds the queen regardless of how many hearts he holds. Should he elect to play East for the queen, by cashing the king and running the jack, he would almost certainly need a 3-3 heart split to give him four tricks in the suit.

Accordingly, South led a heart to the 10 at trick two. This proved important when South next cashed the ace and king of spades, getting the bad news. Declarer crossed back to his hand with a diamond to the queen and led a heart to dummy’s jack. He cashed the king of hearts, returned to his hand with the ace of diamonds and cashed the ace of hearts, shedding a low black card from dummy. He had 12 tricks with three spades, four hearts, four diamonds, and one club. Well done!

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