CANADIAN BRIDGE

Dummy's ten was covered by the jack and ace and followed by a low heart for the ten. West switched to the jack of clubs as declarer ruffed to play a second low trump. West, perforce, won the ace and tapped South with a a second club. The top spades came next on which declarer discarded a diamond, noting the fall of the nine. The ace of diamonds was cashed, dropping the queen, and was followed by the eight of spades. East elected to pitch as South parted with another diamond. South ruffed a club in hand and exited with the ten of diamonds. East's trump queen was trapped and South won the last two tricks with the king-jack of hearts, N-S +620.

It would not avail East to trump the eight of spades. Declarer would overruff, extract the last trump and concede a diamond to score another ten tricks. West could defeat the contract by returning a spade or a diamond after winning the ten of hearts. South cannot prevent East from scoring the queen of hearts in this scenario.

North's resolve to raise to four hearts was a wacky decision. The contract would not be a high percentage one even if partner held ace-king-jack seventh of hearts. He should pass the pre-empt in search of a plus score with the fervent hope that East might balance!

Author: Dave Willis - visit his website at www.insidebridge.ca Last chance for June trip to the Laurentians 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.