BRIDGE


BRIDGE

North-South vulnerable, East deals

NORTH

xQ 4 2

u8 3

vA 9 7 6 5 3 2

wA

WEST EAST

xK 9 x10 8

uA Q J 9 7 5 u10 6 4 2

vQ J 4 v10 8

w7 5 wK Q 8 6 3

SOUTH

xA J 7 6 5 3

uK

vK

wJ 10 9 4 2

The bidding:

EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH

Pass 1x 2u 3v

4w 4x Pass 5x

Pass 6x All Pass

Opening lead: Seven of w

East’s four club bid, as a passed hand, was a lead-directing raise to four hearts. North felt that his hand, with good controls and a surprise fit in spades, warranted a slam try. The five-spade bid asked South to bid slam with a second round or better control in hearts. South did as he was asked, hating every minute of it.

West duly led a club and South had a small chance. He won with dummy’s ace perforce, led a diamond to his king, and ruffed a club. He cashed dummy’s ace of diamonds to discard his heart and then ruffed a diamond, setting up the suit. This was the position:

NORTH

xQ 4

u8 3

v9 7 6 5

wVoid

WEST EAST

xK 9 x10 8

uA Q J 9 7 5 u10 6 4

vVoid vVoid

wVoid wK Q 8

SOUTH

xA J 7 6 5

uVoid

vVoid

wJ 10 9

At this point South led a low spade toward the dummy. West, who was regretting not leading the ace of hearts, studied the dummy and remarkably played low, sacrificing his sure trump trick. This was the play to defeat the contract. Declarer now had to lose two tricks one way or the other. A truly fine defensive play!

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