BRIDGE with Bob Jones

It’s hard to see why East would bother entering the auction with his pathetic hand. It did, however, give South a problem in the bidding. South started by cue bidding East’s heart suit, but he didn’t know what to do next. He just bid what he hoped he could make.

South won the opening spade lead with his ace and then cashed four rounds of clubs, ending in his hand. East discarded a spade and two hearts. Declarer cashed the queen of spades and led the queen of diamonds — king, ace, 10. Dummy’s nine of diamonds was cashed, East shedding another heart, leaving this position:

NORTH ♠

K10 ♥ 98 ♦J ♣ Void WEST EAST

♠ Void ♠ J6

♥ K10 ♥ J65

♦ 865 ♦ Void

♣ Void ♣ Void

SOUTH

♠ Void

♥ AQ4

♦ 74

♣ Void

South led dummy’s nine of hearts and passed it when East played low. West won with his 10 and exited with a diamond to dummy’s jack. East couldn’t defend the position and he chose to discard a low heart. Declarer cashed dummy’s king of spades, discarding his remaining diamond, and led the eight of hearts. East followed with the jack, but his last card was known to be the jack of spades, so South rose with his ace and claimed his contract when this felled the king from West. Well played!