BRIDGE

BRIDGE

East-West vulnerable, North deals

NORTH

xK J 6 5

uA

vK Q 9 2

wK Q 7 6

WEST EAST

x2 xQ 10 9 3

uQ J 8 7 uK 9 4 3 2

v8 7 vJ 10 6

wJ 10 9 8 5 2 wA

SOUTH

xA 8 7 4

u10 6 5

vA 5 4 3

w4 3

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1w Dbl 1v 1u

3v Pass 5v All pass

Opening lead: Two of x

Many would not agree with some of the bidding decisions, but this deal was bid as shown when it was played in Australia in 1993. South was Victorian expert Ian McCance.

The opening spade lead was almost certainly a singleton. McCance won in his hand with the ace and drew trumps in three rounds, ending in his hand. Time to think. The opponents had just 14 high-card points between them, and West must have a few of them for his free bid. That meant that East had made a very light takeout double. McCance decided that East must have a singleton club and it was probably the ace.

Backing his judgment with his play, McCance led a low club from his hand and also played low from dummy. The fall of the ace was a relief, but the contract was still far from safe. South won the heart shift with dummy’s ace and cashed the king and queen of clubs. This was the position:

NORTH

xK J 6

uVoid

v9

w7

WEST EAST

xVoid xQ 10 3

uQ J 7 uK 9

vVoid vVoid

wJ 10 wVoid

SOUTH

x8 7 4

u10

v5

wVoid

The seven of clubs was led and East had to discard a heart, or else a second spade could be set up. Declarer ruffed the club and then ruffed his last heart. McCance then led dummy’s six of spades. East won, but had to lead a spade into dummy’s king-jack at the end. Well played!

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