BRIDGE

BRIDGE

Both vulnerable, South deals

NORTH

xQ 8 6 4

uA K 2

vJ 8 7 5

w8 5

WEST EAST

x9 xJ 10 3 2

u9 4 u10 5 3

vK Q 10 6 3 v9 4 2

wA J 10 7 4 wK Q 6

SOUTH

xA K 7 5

uQ J 8 7 6

vA

w9 3 2

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1u 2NT- 3w-- Pass

4u All pass

-Both minors, at least 5-5

--Good heart raise

Opening lead: Nine of spades

The ”Unusual No Trump” -- a jump to two no trump to show a weakish hand with both minors -- has been popular in tournament bridge for about 50 years. Defenses to it have been developed and North-South were using one of those defenses in today’s deal. As we’ve said before, these two-suited bids can be very effective when they uncover a fit, but they can draw a roadmap for declarer when they don’t.

The opening spade lead was an obvious singleton, and it would take skillful declarer play to overcome the 4-1 spade break. The first trick was won with dummy’s queen and the two of hearts was led to South’s queen. A heart back to the ace, with West following suit to both hearts, meant that West’s original distribution was almost certainly 1-2-5-5. The game of bridge, and the people who play it, can throw you some curveballs, but things are usually as they appear to be, and that is what you should play for.

A low spade was led from the table, and East was helpless against a declarer who knew the whole layout. Had East played low, South would have played the seven, picking up the whole suit right there. East chose to split his honors, playing the 10, and South won this with his king. Declarer crossed back to dummy with the king of hearts, drawing the last trump, and led another spade. There was no hope for the defense at this point and South quickly claimed his 10 tricks.

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