BRIDGE

BRIDGE

Both vulnerable, West deals

NORTH

xA K J 7

uK 10

vK 3 2

wA K 10 4

WEST EAST

x6 5 xQ 10 8 4 2

uA 8 7 4 3 uQ J 6 2

vA 8 v7 6

wQ J 7 5 w9 3

SOUTH

x9 3

u9 5

vQ J 10 9 5 4

w8 6 2

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

1u Dbl 3u- Pass

Pass Dbl Pass 5v

All pass

-Pre-emptive

Opening lead: Ace of u

North’s second double showed a very good hand, and South might have passed. The defense can extract a painful two-trick penalty as long as they get after their diamond trick soon enough. Instead, South chose an aggressive jump to game over the timid four-diamond alternative. South’s decision is not clear-cut. What would you have done?

West shifted to a spade at trick two. South won with dummy’s ace and led a low trump to his queen and West’s ace. West continued with another spade. Declarer won with dummy’s king, cashed the king of diamonds, drawing trumps, and ruffed a spade, hoping to ruff out the queen. No luck there, so the only remaining chance was to find West with both missing club honors. South lead a club, said a silent prayer, and inserted dummy’s 10 when West played low. Success! South’s aggressive bidding had paid off and he scored up his vulnerable game.

West could have made a better effort on defense. Should partner have a spade trick, there was no rush to get after it. There was a clear danger, however, with the ace-king-10 of clubs sitting over him in the dummy. West should have shifted to a low club at trick two. What declarer would stake his contract on the double club finesse before making some play in spades. It’s quite likely that a club shift would have seen the defense prevail.

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