BRIDGE

BRIDGE

North-South vulnerable, South deals.

NORTH

xJ 3 2

uK 8 7 5 2

v9 7

wQ 10 8

WEST EAST

x10 8 x7 5 4

uA Q 9 6 uJ 10

vA K J vQ 10 6 4 2

wK 9 7 3 wJ 5 2

SOUTH

xA K Q 9 6

u4 3

v8 5 3

wA 6 4

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1x Dbl 2x Pass

Pass Dbl Pass 3v

3x All pass

Opening lead: ?

As we’ve said in this space before, there are many terrific young players emerging from different areas in the world. Perhaps leading the way is Europe, where several countries have made bridge a part of their school curricula.

Today’s deal is from an under-21 team competition held in Italy this summer. After identical auctions at both tables, the Italian West led the normal king of diamonds, and then shifted to a trump. Declarer won, conceded a diamond, and had no trouble ruffing a diamond and holding hearts and clubs to one loser in each suit to make his contract.

At the other table, West was Leen Stougie, of the Netherlands. He led the eight of spades, rather than the ace of diamonds, and the defense had a chance. Declarer won the spade lead in his hand with the nine and led a low diamond. Stougie enterprisingly won this with his king and led his remaining trump. Declarer again won in his hand and led a low diamond. Stougie now played his jack, which his partner, his brother Marc, overtook with the queen in order to lead another trump. There was now no way for declarer to avoid losing three diamonds, along with one loser each in hearts and clubs. A beautiful defense!

Alas for the Netherlands, Stougie’s effort was not enough. The Italians prevailed over the Dutch on this occasion, but the Stougie brothers’ defense was the talk of the tournament.

2016 Tribune Content Agency