Goren on Bridge
North-South vulnerable, South deals
A pre-emptive bid can be a two-edged sword. It will always put the opponents under some pressure, but that does not mean that they will make a bad decision. Consider today’s deal. A two-club overcall by West will probably see North-South find their heart fit and settle in four hearts. If
West lets them play there, they will have four losers in that contract and end up down one.
After West chose to put on the pressure by jumping to five clubs, North had no room to look for a heart fit and he supported his partner’s suit. The ace of clubs lead held the first trick and West shifted to a low trump. South drew trumps in three rounds, ending in dummy, and led a spade to the king and ace. West continued with a spade to the 10, jack, and queen, and South ruffed a spade in dummy. A heart to the ace revealed the bad news in that suit, but declarer still had a decent chance.
South ruffed his remaining club with dummy’s last trump, crossed back to his hand with the king of hearts, and cashed the king of trumps. In this two-card ending, South was down to a heart and a spade in his hand and the queen-10 of hearts in dummy.
East couldn’t defend the position. East could not keep the nine of spades and two hearts to the jack. Whatever he chose to discard, South had the rest. Nicely played!