BRIDGE

BRIDGE

North-South vulnerable, North deals

NORTH

xA J 9 3

uVoid

vA 7 4 3

wQ 8 6 5 2

WEST EAST

x10 8 7 6 xQ 5 2

u8 7 6 5 4 3 uA K 9

vK 9 vQ 2

w7 wA J 10 9 4

SOUTH

xK 4

uQ J 10 2

vJ 10 8 6 5

wK 3

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1w 1NT Dbl 2u

2x Pass 3NT All pass

Opening lead: King of v

Today’s deal is from a European Junior tournament. Juniors don’t seem to need as many points to bid three no trump as the rest of us. This pair bashed into three no trump on a combined 21 points -- good fun if they can make it.

There are seven sure tricks after the opening lead. Had West led a heart, it would have been a simple matter for South to set up an extra two tricks in the heart suit. West found the more effective king of diamonds lead. South won this with dummy’s ace and led another diamond to East’s queen. A heart play from East would have made it easy. East shifted to the jack of clubs instead. South won this in his hand with the king and led the queen of hearts to East’s king. East exited with the 10 of clubs, giving a trick to dummy’s queen while setting up two club tricks for himself when he got in with the ace of hearts.

South now cashed his three diamond winners and East couldn’t defend the position. East had to come down to five cards, and he needed to keep three spades and the ace of hearts, so he discarded a second club, leaving him with just the ace. The position was obvious due to the bidding and the early play, so South cashed the king of spades and exited with a heart to East’s ace. East could cash his high club, but then had to lead a spade into dummy’s ace-jack. What’s the problem!

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