BRIDGE

BRIDGE

Neither vulnerable, North deals

NORTH

x10

u10

vA 10 6 5 4 2

wJ 10 9 8 2

WEST EAST

x9 5 4 2 xK J 8 7 3

uQ 9 7 5 4 uA K 8 2

vK vQ 7

wQ 6 4 w5 3

SOUTH

xA Q 6

uJ 6 3

vJ 9 8 3

wA K 7

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

2NT- 3v-- Dbl 4u

Pass Pass 5v All pass

-Both minors, weak

--Both majors, good hand

Opening lead: Five of u

Norberto Bocchi has been a mainstay of the top Italian team for many years, winning numerous major events. He was South, in today’s deal. The auction all makes sense once you understand the unusual opening bid. As we’ve said before, the Europeans bid differently than Americans.

The opening heart lead went to East’s ace and the shift was to a low spade. Bocchi studied this carefully. He saw a chance that would not require the queen of clubs to be onside, but it needed a surprising play. He had to take the spade finesse, not to avoid a loser, but to preserve enough trumps to reach the ending that he wanted. It was a high-percentage finesse on the auction and Bocchi inserted his queen of spades. So far, so good.

Bocchi cashed the ace of spades and ruffed his last spade. He then cashed dummy’s ace of diamonds before leading a club to his king and ruffing a heart. A club back to his ace let him ruff his last heart. At this point he had eliminated both majors from his hand and the dummy. He exited with a trump to East’s queen. East, as expected, had no clubs remaining and had to lead a major suit card. Bocchi ruffed in dummy while discarding his last club and claimed his contract. Well played!

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