BRIDGE

BRIDGE

North-South vulnerable, West deals

NORTH

xJ 4 3

uA 9 6 4

v9 8

wA 9 7 5

WEST EAST

xQ 10 9 6 2 xK 7 5

uVoid u10 7 2

vA K Q 7 v6 5 4 2

wK J 4 3 w8 6 2

SOUTH

xA 8

uK Q J 8 5 3

vJ 10 3

wQ 10

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

1x Pass Pass 3u

Pass 4u All pass

Opening lead: Ace of v

South’s jump to three hearts in the pass-out seat shows a good six-card or longer suit with 14-16 points. His bid was an aggressive evaluation of his hand. North’s very reasonable raise got them to a thin game that was not a favorite to come in.

West cashed two top diamonds and shifted to the 10 of spades. This was covered by the jack and king, and won by declarer’s ace. All of the important black cards were now isolated in the West hand and South took full advantage. South cashed the king and queen of hearts before ruffing his last diamond with dummy’s ace of hearts. He then ran his hearts, leaving this position with one heart to go:

NORTH

xVoid

uVoid

vVoid

wA 9 7 5

WEST EAST

xQ 6 x7

uVoid uVoid

vVoid v6

wK J w8 6

SOUTH

x8

u3

vVoid

wQ 10

South cashed his last heart and West had to decide what to do. West had already discarded his nine of spades to avoid a potential endplay. Should he shed his remaining low spade, South would put him on play with the queen of spades to lead away from the king of clubs. West defended strongly by discarding the queen of spades, hoping his partner held the eight. Sadly for him, South had that card and it became the game-going trick. Well played!

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