NEW CANADIAN BRIDGE

Monday, January 18, 2021

Declarer inserted the queen ruffing away East's king. The ace of hearts was followed by another as East switched to the deuce of diamonds and the defense scored the ace and king. South could claim the contract because he could park three clubs on the spade winners. Double-dummy, South could win twelve tricks by winning the ace of spades, discarding a diamond, and taking a trump finesse. Next comes the queen of spades for a ruffing finesse. If East covers, he ruffs and extracts the king of hearts with the ace. Dummy is entered with a trump to dispose of two diamonds on the spade winners. A club is continued for the jack and queen but the diamond return is ruffed. South follows with ace and a club ruff felling the king to claim two overtricks. An issue is that the game might be defeated when a trump finesse fails since declarer does not know the location of the spade king. North's heart raise promised four-card support because a support double would have disclosed three-card support. South's collection warranted a leap to game based upon the ten-card fit and a spade void. 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.