Neither vulnerable. North deals.
NORTH
S-A 9 8
H-A K Q 7 4
D-10 9 7
C-A 10
WEST EAST
S-K 4 2 S-10 6 5
H-8 5 H-J 9 2
D-A 8 6 4 2 D-K J
C-9 6 2 C-Q J 8 5 3
SOUTH
S-Q J 7 3
H-10 6 3
D-Q 5 3
C-K 7 4
More Top Picks Ski Helmet
The bidding:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1C Pass 1S Pass
2D Pass 2S Pass
3H Pass 4H Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: Four of D
This deal is from the Spingold KO Teams at the Summer ACBL National Championships. The bidding shown features the Polish Club system. One club was either a 12-14 balanced hand or strong. Two diamonds showed a three-card spade raise and at least 17 high-card points. Two spades showed a four-card suit and 8-10 points and the rest of the auction was natural.
West chose an excellent time to underlead his ace of diamonds through the strong hand. The defenders started with two diamonds and a ruff and, when West refused to cover the queen of spades when it was led, the defenders had to score a spade trick — down one.
At the other table North judged the hand as too strong for one no trump, so he opened one heart. South responded one spade, North jumped to two no trump and three no trump became the final contract. The contract was unbeatable since declarer could not go wrong as the cards lay even with a diamond lead.
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