BRIDGE

BRIDGE

North-South vulnerable, East deals.

NORTH

x8 6 5 3

u8 7 4 2

v8 2

wQ 10 9

WEST EAST

xA 7 x4

uA K Q 10 3 u9 6

v7 5 vK J 10 9 6 4 3

w8 7 3 2 wK 6 4

SOUTH

xK Q J 10 9 2

uJ 5

vA Q

wA J 5

The bidding:

EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH

3v 4x Pass Pass

Pass

Opening lead: Ace of u

It is important for a declarer to take stock of all his assets when playing a hand. He may not need them all on a given hand, but he should be aware that they are there should he need them.

The defense started with three rounds of hearts. Recognizing that dummy’s eight of spades was one of his assets, as an entry to dummy, declarer carefully ruffed the third heart with the nine of spades. South led the king of spades to West, who continued with a fourth heart. South ruffed this with the 10 of spades and crossed to dummy by leading the two of spades to the eight in dummy, drawing the last trump in the process.

South needed all the rest, which meant that he needed both minor-suit finesses. He started by leading the 10 of clubs and running it when East played low. This was followed by the queen of clubs, which was cleverly covered by East. The king of diamonds was also onside, but there was no way to get to dummy to take that finesse, so declarer had to concede a trick to the king of diamonds and finished down one.

Declarer could have done better. Can you spot how? South should have led the queen of clubs on the first round of the suit and played the jack under it when East played low. He could then continue with the 10 of clubs. He would have another entry to dummy whether or not East covered. A successful diamond finesse would have seen him home with 10 tricks.

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