BRIDGE

BRIDGE

Both vulnerable, West deals

NORTH

xK J

uK 9 7 5 4

v9 6

wA K Q 9

WEST EAST

xQ 6 3 x7 4 2

uA J uQ 10 8 6

vA Q 10 4 v8 7 5

w10 8 6 5 wJ 7 3

SOUTH

xA 10 9 8 5

u3 2

vK J 3 2

w4 2

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

1v Dbl Pass 2x

Pass 3v Pass 3NT

All pass

Opening lead: Eight of w

North considered his hand too good for a simple one-heart overcall, so he started with double. This led to a game contract with slim chances for success.

South won the opening club lead with dummy’s ace and led the jack of spades, running it when East played low. West won with the queen and continued with another club to dummy’s king. Declarer overtook dummy’s king of spades with the ace and cashed three more spade tricks, discarding three hearts from dummy as West shed his two lowest diamonds. Next came a heart toward the king. West grabbed his ace and exited with the jack of hearts to dummy’s king. South had a perfect read on the hand and cashed the queen of clubs before exiting with dummy’s last club. West won this with the 10, but was forced to lead a diamond to South’s king for the ninth trick.

Declarer played the hand skillfully, but West might have done better had he allowed the jack of spades to hold the second trick. South can cash two high clubs and put West on play with another club, but what will he discard from his hand? He must keep three diamonds, so he will have to part with a spade. West can cash the ace of hearts and exit with a heart. Dummy must lead a diamond at this point. West will win and exit with the queen of spades. Having discarded a spade earlier, South will have to give West two more diamond tricks. Down one!

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