BRIDGE
BRIDGE
Both vulnerable, West deals
NORTH
x8 2
uQ J 8 5 3 2
v5 3
wJ 10 9
WEST EAST
x10 3 x6 5
uA K 9 u7 6 4
vA K J 10 4 v9 7 6
wK 6 2 w8 7 5 4 3
SOUTH
xA K Q J 9 7 4
u10
vQ 8 2
wA Q
The bidding:
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
1v Pass Pass Dbl
Pass 1u Pass 3NT
All pass
Opening lead: King of v
Today’s deal is from the final of the Grand National Teams some years ago. West was the late Kyle Larsen, from the San Francisco area, who won many National and World titles, most in partnership with Rose Meltzer.
South at both tables bid their hand cleverly, never mentioning their spade suit. They arrived in three no trump, which had a chance, as opposed to the doomed four spades. At the other table, West led and continued diamonds, giving South a trick with the queen. Holding the top hearts and the king of clubs, West never dreamed that South would be able to get eight more tricks without giving him the lead. One diamond trick, however, was all declarer needed to bring home the contract.
Larsen also led a top diamond and gave his next play a lot of thought. He reasoned that declarer, who had no heart honor, at most the queen of diamonds, and at most the ace-queen of clubs, had to have long solid spades to justify the three no trump bid. Good reasoning, but what could he do about it? Larsen cashed both of his top hearts. South had to make an uncomfortable discard on the second heart. A discard in either minor would allow West to lead that suit safely, so he shed a low spade. A spade shift from Larsen now would allow the eight of spades to be an entry to the good hearts, so Larsen continued with the ace and another diamond. Declarer was forced to give Larsen a club trick at the end and finished down one!
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