BRIDGE

BRIDGE

Neither vulnerable, East deals.

NORTH

x9 7 5 2

uK Q 4 2

vQ 6 3

wK 5

WEST EAST

x8 6 xA K 4

uJ 7 5 3 uA 10 9 8

v10 8 4 2 vJ 9

wJ 10 6 wA 9 8 4

SOUTH

xQ J 10 3

u6

vA K 7 5

wQ 7 3 2

The bidding:

EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH

1NT Pass Pass 2w-

Pass 3x All pass

-Both majors

Opening lead: Six of x

North’s balancing two-club bid would not be to everyone’s taste. It seems that South expected a bit more -- if not more points, at least more spades. North-South would have easily defeated one no trump after the normal queen of spades lead. Their plus score was now in jeopardy.

It seems routine for East to continue with the ace and another spade after winning the first trick, but some extra thought will expose that as incorrect defense. Should West have a diamond honor, they will always defeat the contract as long as East shifts to diamonds at trick two. If that honor is the king, rather than the ace, it must be set up immediately. Declarer could have a side club suit good enough to discard a couple of diamonds from dummy.

Also, a shift to the jack of diamonds will clarify the diamond position for West when South has both high diamonds. Why is that important? Consider the layout in today’s deal. Should East continue with two more rounds of spades at tricks two and three, West will have to make a discard. How could he possibly know that it was crucial to keep all of his diamonds?

East should shift to the jack of diamonds at trick two. Declarer will then lead a heart to the king in dummy and East can then continue with the ace and another spade. West will know, from the lead of the jack of diamonds, that East led from shortness, so he will surely discard a club or a heart and the defense will prevail.

2016 Tribune Content Agency