BRIDGE

BRIDGE

Neither vulnerable, South deals

NORTH

xK Q 9 8 7

uA 10 6 3 2

v10 3

w6

WEST EAST

xA J 5 4 x10 2

uQ 5 uJ 8 7

vK 9 8 v6 4 2

w9 5 4 2 wA Q 8 7 3

SOUTH

x6 3

uK 9 4

vA Q J 7 5

wK J 10

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1NT Pass 2u- Pass

2x Pass 3u Pass

3NT All pass

-Transfer to spades

Opening lead: Four of x

North might have continued with a bid of four hearts, counting on partner to have at least one three-card major for his opening bid. Just as well that he passed, as a four-heart contract would be difficult on any lead and have no chance on a diamond lead.

West defended the hand strangely, starting with a spade lead rather than a club. Declarer won with dummy’s king, then led the 10 of diamonds and ran it, hoping for some luck. The 10 held the trick, so South repeated the finesse, but West won with the king this time and shifted to the queen of hearts. South would have done well to duck this, but hoping the shift was from the queen-jack, he won this in hand with the king and cashed three diamond tricks. He then led the nine of hearts and ran it to East’s jack. This was the position:

NORTH

xQ 9

uA 10 6

vVoid

wVoid

WEST EAST

xA J 5 x10

uVoid u8

vVoid vVoid

w9 5 wA Q 8

SOUTH

x6

u4

vVoid

wK J 10

East made up for any sins that might have been committed by his partner by leading the ace of clubs. This put pressure on the dummy to find a discard, and there was no winning answer. A spade and West would get three spade tricks, so South did his best by discarding a heart from dummy. A heart from East now end-played the dummy. West got the last two tricks with the ace-jack of spades.

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