Both vulnerable. North deals.
NORTH
S-8 4
H-3 2
D-K Q 10 4 2
C-A 9 7 3
WEST EAST
S-K 7 5 3 S-Q J 10 6
H-A K 10 7 H-Q J 5 4
D-6 3 D-8 7 5
C-? 4 2 C-? 5
SOUTH
S-A 9 2
H-9 8 6
D-A J 9
C-K J 8 6
The bidding:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
Pass Pass 1C Dbl
More Top Picks Best Pressure Steam Cleaners
1D 1S 2D 2S
3C Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: King of H
To be faced with a pure guess at the bridge table is relatively rare. Usually there is some clue in the bidding or play to point you in the right direction. Consider this deal from a qualifying round in the Von Zedtwitz Life Master Pairs.
After a competitive auction, you become declarer at a contract of three clubs. East drops the queen of hearts on West’s lead of the king. A low heart continuation is won by the knave and East switches to the queen of spades. Who do you think has the queen of trumps?
There is one reasonably good clue in the bidding. West’s free rebid of two spades suggests a sound takeout double and since East has already shown up with six points in the majors that leaves little enough for West. So shoot up with the ace of spades and shift to the jack of clubs. As the cards lie, there will be no guess for the trump ten and you make your contract with a couple of overtricks — invaluable at a match-point pairs event.
(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
.)