bridge

West selected the spade seven as partner won the queen but shifted to a low club. East won the club return, cashed the ace of spades and continued with a third club. The partscore finished down one, N-S -100. South will bring home the contract when West chooses to start with a diamond. He will win the queen, when East follows with a spot-card, to continue with a diamond to the ten and will discard two spades on the ace and king of diamonds. He loses only two trump tricks and the top clubs to score an overtrick for a satisfying +140.

The weak two-bid in fourth seat promised 10-12 HCP or South would simply have passed out the deal. North could not consider any action holding a singleton heart. However, East should have balanced with a takeout double since he was a passed hand. At favorable vulnerability, it usually pays dividends to be competitive but he was right to remain silent on this deal. Partner's advance to two spades would end the auction where he must lose at least two hearts, three diamonds and a trump trick. In fact, a two-trick set is a possibility when South wins two heart tricks to switch to the queen of diamonds. He subsequently ruffs the fourth diamond with the jack of spades.

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