CANADIAN BRIDGE

A Struggle

South won in hand to continue with a diamond to the king followed by another for the jack and ace. West switched to the queen of spades which was ducked. East won the continuation and drove out the king with a third round. Declarer conceded a diamond to the queen but East cashed the thirteenth spade for a one-trick set, N-S -100. There was no point in West knocking out the ace of clubs because he held no entry to cash the club winners. The spade shift required East to hold four spades with two honors and the queen of diamonds. If West woodenly drives out the ace of clubs, declarer leads a heart to the jack and plays a third diamond. East wins the queen to return the deuce of spades but South puts up the king and claims nine tricks. East's weak jump overcall was a flight of fancy but an action that essentially forced South to advance to the vulnerable nine-trick game. Curiously, 3NT might be harder to defeat with North as declarer. After a sequence of one club, one diamond, 1NT, 3NT, East will begin with a harmless ten of hearts. West must again switch to spades after winning the second diamond to set the contract.