BRIDGE

BRIDGE

Neither vulnerable, South deals

NORTH

x9 6 2

uA K J 7

vA 3 2

w7 6 3

WEST EAST

x10 7 5 4 xK Q J 3

uQ 9 3 u10 4 2

vQ 7 5 vK 6 4

wQ 4 2 wJ 10 5

SOUTH

xA 8

u8 6 5

vJ 10 9 8

wA K 9 8

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1NT- Pass 3NT All pass

-12-14 points

Opening lead: Four of x

The weak no trump does not enjoy a lot of support in the USA, but it is widely used in other parts of the world. Today’s deal is from a match some years ago between Argentina and Chile. West was the late Alberto Berisso playing with Carlos Cabanne, both from Argentina.

South ducked the jack of spades at trick one, but won the king of spades continuation. The jack of diamonds was led to trick three and passed to East’s king. East cashed the queen of spades and then, trying to look like a man who had run out of spades, shifted to the five of clubs. Declarer rose with his ace, and successfully ran the 10 of diamonds.

South continued with a diamond to the ace, picking up the suit, cashed one high heart, and returned to his hand with the king of clubs. South cashed his long diamond, discarding a club from dummy, as West casually shed the nine of hearts! Declarer was at the crossroads and had to decide what to do. He could, of course, lead a heart and take the rest of the tricks, but he didn’t know that. The tricky East-West defense had convinced him that East was down to the queen doubleton of hearts and the queen of clubs. He proudly led a club, expecting East to be endplayed and forced to lead a heart into the dummy’s king-jack. He was deeply disappointed to see West win the queen of clubs and promptly cash a spade for the setting trick.

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