BRIDGE

BRIDGE

Neither vulnerable, South deals

NORTH

xA 5 2

u3

vA J 10 4 2

wK Q 9 6

WEST EAST

xQ 10 9 6 x8 4 3

uK J 7 4 u10 9 8 6 2

v9 7 vK 6 5

w5 4 2 w10 7

SOUTH

xK J 7

uA Q 5

vQ 8 3

wA J 8 3

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1NT Pass 2w Pass

2v Pass 6v All pass

Opening lead: Seven of v

Please forgive the silly auction. The actual auction is unknown to us, nor could we easily create one that would leave the South hand as declarer in a diamond slam. A club slam would be much easier, but then we would have no story to tell.

Declarer played low from dummy on the opening diamond lead. East won with the king and continued with another diamond. South had 11 tricks, and a 12th could come from a successful finesse in one of the majors -- but which one? As we can see, both finesses would lose, but declarer found a road home without taking either one.

South won the second diamond and drew the last trump. He then cashed all four of his club tricks and the remaining diamonds. East innocently discarded one of his spades along the way, leaving this position:

NORTH

xA 5 2

u3

WEST EAST

xQ 10 9 x8 4

uK J u10 9

SOUTH

xK J

uA Q

West still has to come down to four cards. A discard in either major will present South with an extra winner in that suit. Note that had East kept all three of his spades, West could afford to discard a spade in this position and the defense would prevail.

Tribune Content Agency