BRIDGE

South ruffed the spade lead and led the king of hearts for the ace. East returned another spade but South ruffed again and unblocked the jack of hearts. Dummy was entered with the queen of clubs to extract the last trump. South ran the club winners to emerge with twelve tricks, N-S +680.

East could have prevented the overtrick by ducking the king of hearts. When declarer continues with the jack, he wins the ace and plays a third trump restricting South to eleven tricks. In this scenario, he will be entitled to the king of diamonds for a second defensive trick.

South was not about to go quietly since partner’s negative double promised 4+ hearts. When East blasted to four spades, he advanced to five hearts with high expectations of success.

It is difficult to fault West for starting with a top spade but he would receive a ruff if he begins with the singleton club This beginning would defeat the contract if West returns a diamond after scoring the ruff. South cannot manage eleven tricks versus this defense.

E-W own a profitable sacrifice in five spades where a doubled twotrick set costs only 300 points.

Author: Dave Willis - visit his website at www.insidebridge.ca Questions 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