BRIDGE

BRIDGE

Both vulnerable, South deals

NORTH

x8 3

u3 2

v8 7 6 5 3

wA K 7 4

WEST EAST

xQ 7 5 x6 2

uK 8 7 5 uA J 10 9

vQ J 10 2 v9 4

wQ 10 wJ 9 5 3 2

SOUTH

xA K J 10 9 4

uQ 6 4

vA K

w8 6

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1x Pass 1NT Pass

3x Pass 4x All pass

Opening lead: Queen of v

North’s raise to game was only slightly aggressive. An eight-card fit, two pure tricks in clubs, and the possibility of a heart ruff made it a worthwhile gamble.

South won the opening diamond lead in his hand perforce and took time to plan his play. A successful trump finesse would see him home, but that was only a 50 percent chance. South thought he could do better by trying to ruff a heart in dummy. Leading a heart from his hand wouldn’t work, as East would be able to gain the lead twice for trump plays.

South crossed to dummy at trick two with the ace of clubs and led a heart. Had East played low, declarer would have put up the queen. This would assure the contract, with normal splits, as the defense would not be able to lead trumps twice without giving up their queen. East, however, unerringly rose with his ace to lead a trump. South won with his ace and crossed back to dummy with the king of clubs to lead another heart. Should East hold the king, the queen of hearts would be the tenth trick. The queen lost to West’s king. West might have tried a low spade, hoping his partner held the jack, but he led another diamond, instead.

The heavy lifting was all done. South won the diamond in his hand and took the hard-earned heart ruff in dummy. Declarer still had to give the defense a trick with the queen of trumps, but the contract was home safe. Nicely played!

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