bridge
East rose with the ace to return the club queen as partner ruffed away the king. West exited with the four of hearts for the queen and ace. South continued with the deuce of diamonds as East topped the queen with the king to return a heart, driving out the king. South could not avoid the loss of a heart trick but nine tricks were home, N-S +140.
West could be squeezed in the red-suits for an overtrick when East fails to return a heart after winning the king of diamonds.
Suppose that South declines to play the king of clubs at trick two. East continues with the club jack permitting partner to score the queen of spades. A heart will be discarded from the table but South must also lose a diamond, resulting in another nine tricks.
It is quite possible that the major suit game might be reached at other tables where the singleton club would be the cause of declarer's demise. South might have evaluated his prospects more highly in light of the club overcall and ventured game in anticipation that partner would own club shortness. Unfortunately, it was West who held a singleton, not North.
Author: Dave Willis - visit his website at www.insidebridge.ca
Questions on bridge can be sent with a stamped, self-addressed envelope to The New Canadian Bridge c/o Torstar Syndication Services, One Yonge St., Toronto, M5E 1E6.
East topped dummy's queen with the ace but switched to the jack of spades. Declarer won the ace, drew trump and played off the ace and king of clubs for a surprising result, NS +680.
South was not about to risk the contract by taking a club finesse. He was assured of an overtrick by putting up the king of clubs and discarding a spade on the diamond winner.
A club hook loses and the defense would cash two spades to earn a one-trick set. The fall of the club queen was a bonus, resulting in an improbable twelve tricks. Curiously, the spade queen would appear to be the most effective beginning but this start may not alter the result.
South will probably duck but win the continuation and reel off a a good number of trump. He switches to the top clubs intending to ruff a club hoping to fell the queen and then play a diamond. If the defender with the ace holds no more spades, an overtrick will be home.
Declarer actually scores another twelve tricks when the club queen drops doubleton. Some South players would open with a demand two-bid since South is virtually assured of nine tricks at hearts. However, slam is unlikely to be reached because North holds a singleton heart.
Author: Dave Willis - visit his website at www.insidebridge.ca
Questions on bridge can be sent with a stamped, self-addressed envelope to The New Canadian Bridge c/o Torstar Syndication Services, One Yonge St., Toronto, M5E 1E6.