BRIDGE

BRIDGE

Neither vulnerable, South deals

NORTH

x7 5 4

uA 10 7 5 4

vA Q 10

w10 3

WEST EAST

xA 10 9 8 3 xK Q J 2

uK 6 2 u9 8 3

vJ 8 5 4 v6

w6 wK J 9 8 2

SOUTH

x6

uQ J

vK 9 7 3 2

wA Q 7 5 4

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1v 1x Dbl 2NT-

3w 3v 3x 4x

Pass Pass 5v Pass

Pass Dbl All pass

-Spade support

Opening lead: Ace of x

Today’s deal is from a recent match between a top Italian team and a team from Greece. The bidding might look strange to American players, with West’s three diamond bid especially mysterious. As we’ve said before, the Europeans bid differently than we do. South was a Greek player known to us only as Papakyriak (Papa the Greek).

East dropped the king of spades under partner’s lead of the ace, promising the queen, so West continued with a spade to East’s jack, ruffed by South. Declarer led the jack of hearts, covered by the king, and won in dummy with the ace. South cashed the ace of diamonds, crossed to his hand with the queen of hearts, and led a low diamond to dummy’s 10, no doubt suggested by that three diamond bid. He continued with the 10 of hearts, discarding a club, and then another heart to shed another club as West ruffed.

West continued with another spade, ruffed brilliantly by South with the king of trumps. Declarer could now lead his remaining diamond to dummy’s queen to draw the last trump. Another club was shed on dummy’s last heart before South took the winning club finesse to bring home his contact. Truly well played!

They stopped in four diamonds at the other table so Papakyriak’s outstanding play earned a big swing for his team, not to mention the respect of the other competitors.

Tribune Content Agency