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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