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Both vulnerable. West deals.

NORTH

S-K Q 10 4

H-10 9 8 3 2

D-10 6 4 3

C-Void

WEST EAST

S-7 6 3 2 S-A J

H-A 6 H-K 7 5 4

D-A 9 7 D-Q J 5 2

C-10 8 4 2 C-A J 5

SOUTH

S-9 8 5

H-Q J

D-K 8

C-K Q 9 7 6 3

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

Pass Pass 1H 2C

Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Ace of H

You tend to look for major swings in a pair competition to come from doubled game contracts or higher. To find one from an undoubled low partscore is hard to believe. But consider this deal from a major pair event.

No one can fault the bidding. East-West’s methods included four-card major opening bids. Few would fault South’s two-level overcall and North certainly could do nothing about matters.

West led the ace of hearts and East followed with a discouraging four despite holding the king. West shifted to a low spade to the queen and ace and East returned the jack of spades to dummy’s king. A diamond to the king lost to the ace and the spade return was ruffed.

East cashed the queen of diamonds and king of hearts and exited with a heart. Declarer ruffed with the six, West overruffed with the eight and played his remaining spade. East cleverly ruffed with the ace of trumps and led a fourth heart, promoting partner’s ten of trumps. When the smoke cleared the defenders had collected nine tricks for 400 points!

(Tannah Hirsch welcomes readers’ responses sent in care of this newspaper or to Tribune Media Services Inc., 2010 Westridge Drive, Irving, TX 75038. E-mail responses may be sent to

[email protected]

.)