BRIDGE

BRIDGE

Neither vulnerable, East deals

NORTH

xQ 7

u6 3 2

v9 6

wQ J 8 6 5 2

WEST EAST

x10 6 5 xA J 8 4 2

uK Q 10 9 5 u8 7

v10 8 4 vK Q J 7 3

w10 7 w4

SOUTH

xK 9 3

uA J 4

vA 5 2

wA K 9 3

The bidding:

EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH

1x 1NT 2u 3w

3v 3NT All pass

Opening lead: King of u

The club’s Saturday night duplicate was under way with all of the usual suspects hard at work. When Hard Luck Louie played this deal, he recognized an opportunity to execute the Bath Coup at trick one. He smoothly ducked the opening king of hearts lead, feigning weakness in the suit, hoping to induce a heart continuation. That would give Louie nine tricks and he could get an overtrick from the spade suit.

West, with no side entry, realized that a heart continuation would only be correct if declarer had started with the doubleton ace of hearts. Partner would not have played the seven of hearts at trick one if he held the jack-eight-seven, so West decided to shift. Knowing that Louie needed a high spade for his no trump bid, West shifted to the 10 of diamonds at trick two. This was the winning play and Louie ended up down one. ”Nice defense,” said Louie. ”My play would have worked against most of the other players.”

Lucky Larry declared the same contract with the same opening lead. Larry also saw the opportunity for a Bath Coup, but he thought it was unlikely to work in this situation. The likelihood of a diamond shift was too great. Larry also wanted to induce a heart continuation, and he did this by smoothly playing his jack of hearts at trick one! West, certain that Larry started with ace-jack doubleton, gleefully continued hearts. Larry won this with his ace and was able to develop his ninth trick in the spade suit. Nice play!

Tribune Content Agency