BRIDGE

BRIDGE

East-West vulnerable, South deals.

NORTH

xJ 7 6 5

uA K

v10 9 8 7 2

wQ 9

WEST EAST

xK 10 8 3 xVoid

u10 7 6 uQ 9 8 4 2

v6 5 3 vA Q J 4

w8 7 6 wA 10 4 3

SOUTH

xA Q 9 4 2

uJ 5 3

vK

wK J 5 2

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1x Pass 3x Dbl

4x Pass Pass Dbl

All pass

Opening lead: Seven of u

East’s first takeout double is reasonable, but the second double was too much. West, with a chunky spade holding, sat out the double. They had a much better chance on defense than on offense, as any contract they played would have been bloody.

Dummy won the opening heart lead with the king and led the 10 of diamonds. East rose with the ace, felling South’s king, and continued with a heart to the board’s ace. The queen of clubs was led to East’s ace, and East continued the suit to declarer’s king. A heart was ruffed in dummy and a diamond was ruffed in hand. South cashed the jack of clubs, leaving this position:

NORTH

xJ 7 6

uVoid

v9 8

wVoid

WEST EAST

xK 10 8 3 xVoid

uVoid uQ 9

v3 vQ J

wVoid w10

SOUTH

xA Q 9 4

uVoid

vVoid

w5

South led a low spade from his hand. West couldn’t profit by winning this trick, so he played low. The jack won in dummy and a diamond was ruffed by declarer. South now exited with his remaining club and sat back and waited for the last two tricks with the ace-queen of trumps. Nicely played!

2016 Tribune Content Agency