BRIDGE

BRIDGE

East-West vulnerable, North deals

NORTH

x10 9 4

uVoid

vA J 10 5 4

wJ 8 7 5 3

WEST EAST

xA K x8 5

uA K Q 9 8 4 2 uJ 10 7 6 5 3

v8 7 2 vQ 9

wK w6 4 2

SOUTH

xQ J 7 6 3 2

uVoid

vK 6 3

wA Q 10 9

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

2v Pass 2x 4u

4x 5u 5x All pass

Opening lead: Ace of u

The vulnerability of a deal is sometimes referred to as the ”colors,” red meaning vulnerable and white meaning non-vulnerable. The colors can have a profound effect on the bidding of a bridge hand.

North took advantage of his favorable vulnerability and opened an aggressive weak two-bid on a five-card suit. This is a fairly common practice in today’s tournament world. His raise to four spades over the four-heart bid was routine, as was East’s bid of five hearts with his huge fit. South, believing that his side had a big double fit, was happy to compete to five spades. The unfavorable vulnerability for East-West made it too dangerous to keep bidding despite their massive heart fit.

West’s opening heart lead yielded a rare ruff-sluff at trick one. South shed a diamond from his hand while ruffing in dummy. West won the ensuing trump lead, cashed his other high trump, and led another heart. South ruffed and then was able to combine his chances in the minor suits. He cashed the ace and king of diamonds, prepared to fall back on the club finesse if the queen of diamonds didn’t fall. Fall it did and South happily discarded three clubs on the long diamonds to make his contract.

Note that West could not have done better with a different opening lead. Had he cashed his two high spades instead, he would still have been forced to give a ruff-sluff or break one of the minors. He was truly endplayed on opening lead!

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