BRIDGE

BRIDGE

North-South vulnerable, South deals

NORTH

xA K 3

uK Q J 8 6

v2

wK 8 5 3

WEST EAST

x10 4 2 x9 6

u7 u10 5 4 3 2

vK Q 10 9 4 3 vJ 7 6

wQ 9 2 wA J 6

SOUTH

xQ J 8 7 5

uA 9

vA 8 5

w10 7 4

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1x 3v 4NT 5v

Dbl- Pass 6x All pass

-Even number of aces

Opening lead: Seven of u

East showed a serious lack of imagination when he bid five diamonds. Surely it would have been better to bid five clubs, showing where his ”stuff” was located. Even if partner was sleeping and didn’t recognize five clubs as a diamond raise, East could go back to diamonds himself if doubled in five clubs. There would be no story to tell on a club lead.

The heart lead was an obvious singleton. South played low from dummy and East did well to play low also. Due to entry problems, South had to win the first trick with the ace. South cashed the ace of diamonds and ruffed a diamond with the ace of spades in dummy. The king of spades was cashed, followed by four more rounds of spades, leaving this position:

NORTH

xVoid

uK Q J 8

vVoid

wK

WEST EAST

xVoid xVoid

uVoid u10 5 4 3

vK Q vVoid

wQ 9 2 wA

SOUTH

xVoid

u9

v8

w10 7 4

Leading a club right now wouldn’t work -- the blockage in hearts would allow East to escape by leading a low heart. Reading the position perfectly, South led a heart to dummy’s king and then led the king of clubs. East was helpless and had to lead a heart into dummy.

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