BRIDGE

BRIDGE

Neither vulnerable, South deals

NORTH

xA 10 6 4 2

uA 10 7 5

vA 7 4 3

wVoid

WEST EAST

x9 xJ 8

uQ 9 8 uK 6 4 3

v8 2 vK 10 9 6

wA J 10 6 5 3 2 wQ 9 7

SOUTH

xK Q 7 5 3

uJ 2

vQ J 5

wK 8 4

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1x 3w 4w- Pass

4x Pass 6x All pass

-Spade fit, game-forcing values

Opening lead: Nine of x

North got a little carried away with his hand when he leaped to slam. He had a difficult hand to bid, as he held all the first-round controls, leaving nothing for partner to cue bid, and Blackwood wouldn’t help him. All would be well, of course, if South could bring home the contract.

South won the opening trump lead and continued by drawing the remaining trump, ending in his hand. He ran the queen of diamonds, losing to East’s king, and ended down one when the diamonds failed to split 3-3. South was a little unlucky that his line of play failed, but there was a better line available. Can you spot it?

The diamond finesse was a mirage. West would just cover the queen with the king if he had it. The only chance for declarer’s line of play was a 3-3 diamond split, regardless of who held the king -- a 36 percent chance. Better would be to play East for the king of diamonds. South should have started diamonds by leading a low diamond toward his queen. Should that hold the trick, ruff a club back to dummy and lead another low diamond. East can win with his king, but South will have established an extra diamond trick for a heart discard. The king of diamonds in the East hand is a 50 percent chance, and the contract would still make when West has the king of diamonds as long as the suit splits 3-3.

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