BRIDGE

BRIDGE

Both vulnerable, South deals

NORTH

x8 2

uQ J 9 8 3

vQ

wK Q 5 3 2

WEST EAST

xJ 5 3 xK 10 9 4

u10 7 5 4 2 uVoid

vA 5 4 vK 9 8 6 3

wA 10 w9 8 7 4

SOUTH

xA Q 7 6

uA K 6

vJ 10 7 2

wJ 6

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1NT Pass 2v- Pass

2u Pass 3w Pass

4u All pass

-Transfer to hearts

Opening lead: Three of x

The club’s Saturday night duplicate was in full sway when Hard Luck Louie found himself at the helm on this deal after a routine auction. The opening spade lead went to the king and ace. Louie led a low club to dummy’s king and another club to his jack and West’s ace. West continued with the jack of spades to Louie’s queen. East showing out on the ace of trumps was no problem for Louie. He continued with the king of trumps and then finessed against West’s 10 of trumps. Louie drew the rest of the trumps, but when the clubs failed to split 3-3, Louie had to concede down one. ”Everything happens to me,” said Louie.

Lucky Larry played the same contract a while later. The first four tricks were the same. Larry noted West’s 10 of clubs on the first round of the suit and decided that clubs were probably not 3-3. He gave up on the possible overtrick and tried to secure the contract. Rather than cashing the ace of trumps, Larry led a low trump to the board’s jack. Larry was in control when East showed out. He ruffed a club high in his hand, a spade low on the table, and another club ruff with a high trump in his hand. Larry crossed to dummy with a spade ruff and exited with a diamond. The defense had to give dummy both the queen and nine of trumps. Making four!

Note that had both opponents followed to the first trump, Larry would have had an easy road to 10 tricks, starting with a club ruff in his hand.

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