BRIDGE

BRIDGE

North-South vulnerable, South deals

NORTH

x10 8 2

u7 6

vA 10 6 4

wA Q J 6

WEST EAST

xK 6 4 xJ 5

uK Q J 10 8 4 u9 2

v9 7 vK 8 5 2

w7 5 w10 9 4 3 2

SOUTH

xA Q 9 7 3

uA 5 3

vQ J 3

wK 8

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1x 2u 3u- Pass

4x All pass

-Spade fit, invitational or better

Opening lead: King of u

Today’s deal is from a recent team event played in Europe. At one table, South was one of the world’s best players. He ran into some trouble when he won the opening heart lead with the ace and played a second heart. West won and continued with another high heart, ruffed in dummy with the 10 and overruffed by East with the jack. East shifted to a club. South won this with the king and played the ace and another trump. West won and shifted to a diamond. Declarer had no choice but to take the diamond finesse and finished down one when that failed.

At the other table, South did better by allowing the opening king of hearts lead to hold the trick. West shifted to a diamond. Declarer took the finesse, losing to East’s king. East reverted to hearts, South winning with the ace. Declarer cashed the ace of trumps, crossed to dummy with a low club to the jack, and led the 10 of spades. When the jack of spades appeared, South simply covered with his queen. West won with the king, but it was all over for the defense. Declarer won the return and drew the last trump. There were plenty of winners in dummy to provide a discard for the losing heart. Nicely played!

As in other sports, match results are not determined by the fame of the players. They still have to play the game.

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