BRIDGE

BRIDGE

North-South vulnerable, West deals

NORTH

xA 2

uK 7 6 5 2

vQ

wQ 9 7 3 2

WEST EAST

xJ 10 9 8 6 3 xQ 5

uQ 10 3 uJ 8

vA 5 vK J 7 3 2

wA 6 w10 8 5 4

SOUTH

xK 7 4

uA 9 4

v10 9 8 6 4

wK J

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

1x 2x- Pass 4u

All pass

-Hearts and a minor, at least 5-5

Opening lead: Jack of x

South could have bid two no trump to inquire about partner’s minor suit, but he didn’t really care. His hand would complement his partner’s regardless of which minor partner held. The leap to four hearts was only mildly aggressive.

New players are taught to draw trumps as soon as possible, but a little experience teaches us that it is often correct to do something else first. South has three sure losers, assuming a 3-2 trump split, and must take care not to lose a second club trick. A 3-3 club split would make it a wonderful world, but South must anticipate a 4-2 split.

South won the opening spade lead with dummy’s ace and led a low club to his king. West might complicate matters by ducking, but that would be a foolish play if East held the club jack. West continued with a second spade to declarer’s king. South cashed the jack of clubs to unblock the suit, cashed the ace of trumps and led a trump to the king, and then ruffed a club with his last heart. All the heavy lifting had been done, and declarer could now concede a trump and a diamond to the defense, claiming the rest.

Had West ducked his ace of clubs, South would have had to consider whether to continue clubs or draw two rounds of trumps. A club continuation might allow the defense to play a third round of the suit and promote a second trump winner. That couldn’t happen on this lay-out, but it would give declarer something to think about.

Tribune Content Agency