BRIDGE

BRIDGE

Both vulnerable, South deals

NORTH

x10 6

uQ 9 7 4

vA Q 5

wA 8 5 3

WEST EAST

xQ 8 4 2 x7 5

u5 u10 8 6 3

v10 9 8 vK J 7 6 4 3

wJ 9 7 6 4 w10

SOUTH

xA K J 9 3

uA K J 2

v2

wK Q 2

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1x Pass 2w Pass

2u Pass 4u Pass

4NT Pass 5u Pass

6u All pass

Opening lead: 10 of v

Today’s deal is from a recent team game. Both South players did well to put on the brakes at the six level. It must have been tempting to bid a grand slam.

At both tables, declarer won the opening diamond lead with dummy’s ace and led a heart to the ace, followed by the king of hearts. The 4-1 trump split created a problem, and both declarers had to decide how to play the spade suit. They took different roads.

At one table, South crossed to dummy with the ace of clubs and ran the 10 of spades, losing to West’s queen. West reasoned that South would not have played dummy’s ace of diamonds at trick one if he held more than one diamond, so he led a club. East happily ruffed this for down one.

At the other table, South tried a low spade toward dummy’s 10. West rose with his queen and led another diamond. South ruffed this in hand, cashed the jack of hearts, and then crossed to dummy with the ace of clubs. He drew the last trump and claimed the rest, with five black winners in his hand.

The line of play at the first table would have merit in a matchpoint competition, where overtricks are precious. Playing in a team game, or at rubber bridge, the second line of play is much better.

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