BRIDGE

BRIDGE

North-South vulnerable, South deals

NORTH

xA J 9 7

u10 8

v9 8

wK J 8 7 5

WEST EAST

xQ 8 3 2 x6 5 4

u9 7 5 3 uA 2

vK 2 vA J 10 4 3

w10 4 2 wQ 9 6

SOUTH

xK 10

uK Q J 6 4

vQ 7 6 5

wA 3

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1u Pass 1x 2v

Pass Pass 3w Pass

3v Pass 3u Pass4u All pass

Opening lead: King of v

North knew that his partner only had a doubleton heart, but he looked at his strong hearts and weak diamonds and chose to play in four hearts rather than three no trump. Good choice, as three no trump has no chance on a diamond lead. Four hearts has a chance.

The defense started with the ace and king of diamonds. Knowing that his partner held four trumps, East continued with a third diamond, trying to promote a trump in partner’s hand. Dummy ruffed with the eight of hearts as West shed a club, and declarer was at the crossroads. Should he lead a trump, the defense would get a diamond ruff for down one. Even if he took the spade finesse and discarded his last diamond, East would play a fourth diamond when he won the ace of trumps and promote West’s nine of trumps into the setting trick.

Declarer found a neat solution by cashing the king and ace of spades, ruffing a spade, then cashing the ace and king of clubs. East was helpless when the last spade was led from dummy. Should East ruff low, or discard, South would ruff with the six and then ruff his last diamond with the 10 of hearts in dummy. Ruffing with the ace would be no better, as South, would shed his last diamond. South and West would be down to all trumps, with the 10 of trumps still in dummy. No uppercut would be possible. Nicely played!

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