BRIDGE

BRIDGE

Neither vulnerable, West deals

NORTH

xK 9 5 3

uVoid

vK Q 4 2

wA K 10 8 3

WEST EAST

xA Q 6 x10 4

uK Q uA J 10 9 7 6 4

vA 10 9 7 vJ 5 3

w9 6 5 2 wJ

SOUTH

xJ 8 7 2

u8 5 3 2

v8 6

wQ 7 4

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

1NT Pass 4v- Pass

4u Dbl Pass 4x

All pass

-Transfer to hearts

Opening lead: King of u

North did well to make a take-out double of four hearts. That contract will succeed unless North finds the unlikely lead of a low club to South’s queen for a spade shift.

South ruffed the opening heart lead in dummy and led the king of diamonds. West won with his ace and continued with another diamond to the queen. Declarer ruffed a diamond in his hand and led a spade to the king as West ducked his ace. This was followed by another diamond ruff and a heart ruff, leaving this position:

NORTH

x9

uVoid

vVoid

wA K 10 8 3

WEST EAST

xA Q x10

uVoid uA J 10 6

vVoid D-Void

w9 6 5 2 wJ

SOUTH

xJ

u83

vVoid

wQ 7 4

South exited dummy with the nine of spades and West couldn’t prevent declarer from taking four club tricks to make his contract.

It was a lucky lie of the cards for South, but still, the defense could have done better. East’s play at trick one should have been treated as a suit preference signal. Had West shifted to a club after winning the ace of diamonds, he could have won the first round of trumps with the ace and given East a club ruff. A heart from East after that would have tapped dummy and assured West of the setting trick with the queen of trumps.

Tribune Content Agency