BRIDGE

BRIDGE

North-South vulnerable, South deals

NORTH

xA J 10

uQ J 10 9 3

vA K Q

w10 9

WEST EAST

xK Q 6 5 2 x9 7 4 3

uK 8 5 4 2 u7

v8 6 v5 3 2

w8 wJ 7 6 3 2

SOUTH

x8

uA 6

vJ 10 9 7 4

wA K Q 5 4

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1v 2v- Dbl 3x--

4w Pass 4x Pass

5C w Pass 6v All pass

-5-5 in the majors --Pre-emptive

Opening lead: King of x

Three no trump would have been a much better contract, and perhaps North should have bid that rather than double. North, however, had visions of a juicy penalty and the double alerted South to that possibility. South had no chance to bid three no trump and he had no interest in defending. All would be well if South could find a way to take 12 tricks.

South won the opening spade lead with dummy’s ace and cashed the ace and king of diamonds, noting that West followed to both trumps. Declarer’s first thought was to play the ace and another heart, but he realized that West could just duck that and let East ruff it. That play would only work if West had the missing trump. West was known to be 5-5 in the majors and had shown two diamonds. The club finesse offered a very good chance, but South did even better. He led the jack of spades and discarded a club from his hand.

West won with the queen, but what could he do? A club would solve the club issue and South would draw the last trump and discard a heart on the 10 of spades. A diamond, if he had one, would guarantee the club finesse as West would then be void in clubs. A heart would take care of the heart loser and South would draw the last trump and shed his low club on the 10 of spades. Only a spade exit from West would force South to take the club finesse. The jack of spades had been a very thoughtful play.

Tribune Content Agency