BRIDGE

BRIDGE

Both vulnerable, South deals

NORTH

xK Q 9 2

uA K

vA 7

wK 7 6 4 2

WEST EAST

x10 8 5 x3

u9 8 7 5 2 uJ 10 4

vJ 10 9 8 6 vK Q 5 4 3

wVoid wQ J 10 3

SOUTH

xA J 7 6 4

uQ 6 3

v2

wA 9 8 5

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1x Pass 2NT- Pass

3v-- Pass 4NT Pass

5u Pass 6x All pass

-Game forcing spade raise

--Singleton or void in diamonds

Opening lead: Eight of u

North-South were using the Jacoby Two No Trump convention, very popular with tournament players. The two no trump bid sets opener’s suit as trumps, forces to game, and allows opener to show some features of his hand. Opener showed his shortness in diamonds in today’s deal, but with a balanced hand he could have shown his range in points.

An overtrick would be available should the missing clubs split 2-2, and the contract was cold as long as the clubs split no worse than 3-1. In this situation, a good declarer will try to think if there is anything he can do should the clubs split 4-0. South was a good declarer.

South won the opening heart lead in dummy perforce and drew trumps in three rounds. He cashed the king of hearts and the ace of diamonds and then ruffed the seven of diamonds in his hand. The queen of hearts was cashed for a club discard and declarer was now ready to work on the clubs.

He led the five of clubs from his hand intending to play low from dummy no matter what West played. South followed this plan even when West showed out. East won with the 10 but had the hapless choice of giving a ruff-sluff or leading a club, giving declarer the rest of the club suit regardless of which club East led. West would have been in the same predicament if he had all four clubs. South’s foresight in eliminating both red suits from his hand and the dummy paid off. Well played!

Tribune Content Agency