BRIDGE
BRIDGE
East-West vulnerable, North deals
NORTH
xQ 6
u6 4 2
vJ 10 6 5
wA K Q 5
WEST EAST
x9 8 7 5 3 xK J 10
u10 9 uK Q J
vK 9 7 2 vQ 8 4 3
w9 4 w10 3 2
SOUTH
xA 4 2
uA 8 7 5 3
vA
wJ 8 7 6
The bidding:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1v Pass 1u Pass
2u Pass 4u All pass
Opening lead: 10 of u
On any lead but a trump, South would win in his hand and lead a low spade to dummy’s queen. East would win and shift to trumps, but declarer would prevail by ruffing a spade in dummy. South had his work cut out for him on the given trump lead.
Declarer ducked East’s jack of hearts at trick one, but won the king of hearts continuation. Leading a spade toward the queen was now dangerous, as East might be able to win and draw dummy’s last trump. South decided to try a different line of play. He cashed the ace of diamonds at trick three and then led a low club to dummy’s queen. A diamond was ruffed and dummy was re-entered with a club to the king for another diamond ruff.
South held his breath and led a club to dummy’s ace -- he would have had very little chance if this was ruffed. East had to follow to the third club and South ruffed yet another diamond with his last trump. At this point declarer had taken the ace of hearts plus three ruffs in his hand, the ace of diamonds and three high clubs. That was eight tricks with the ace of spades to come. South cashed the ace of spades and led the jack of clubs. That would be his tenth trick if it held. Should the jack of clubs get ruffed, the six of trumps in dummy would be his tenth trick. Well done!
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