BRIDGE

BRIDGE

North-South vulnerable, West deals

NORTH

xA 6 3

uK J 8 6

vQ J 6 5

w7 5

WEST EAST

x9 5 2 xQ 7

u7 3 uA Q 10 5 2

v8 4 v10 9 7 3 2

wK Q J 10 9 2 w3

SOUTH

xK J 10 8 4

u9 4

vA K

wA 8 6 4

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

3w Pass Pass 3x

Pass 4x All pass

Opening lead: King of w

Today’s deal is from the recently completed Bermuda Bowl for the world championship of team bridge. It was held in Lyon, France.

South won the opening club lead with his ace and led a spade to dummy’s ace. He led another spade, intending to finesse East for the queen, but he was pleased see it pop up doubleton in the East hand. South drew the remaining trump and suddenly realized that the contract was a sure thing as long as East held the ace of hearts. East was known to have no black cards remaining, so declarer cashed the ace and king of diamonds before leading the nine of hearts and passing it to East’s 10. What could East do? A heart play would give South an overtrick, so he did the best he could by leading a diamond to dummy. This held declarer to 10 tricks -- five spades, four diamonds, and a club -- but the contract was home.

The contract could have been defeated with an unlikely heart lead as long as East defends perfectly after the lead. South would likely play dummy’s jack and lose to East’s queen. East must resist the temptation to shift to a club. He has to cash the ace of hearts immediately and continue with a third heart. South will ruff with the 10 of spades as West sheds a diamond. South cannot draw trumps ending in dummy and cannot come to 10 tricks. Any other defense and South can succeed on much the same line given above.

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