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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

“In a word, the world turned upside down.” - Robert Burton

Bobby Wolff United Feature Syndicate

Today’s deal is from the 2002 McConnell Trophy finals. Three no-trump is best, but if in four spades, you would surely prefer to declare it as North to protect your heart queen. Still, the defense can lead three rounds of hearts, and ruff in, as happened against the declarer for the losing team, Disa Eythorsdottir.

On the diamond return, declarer (North) did best, in abstract, to rise with her diamond ace, since she knew she needed the club finesse. But she might not have needed the diamond finesse if clubs behaved – or she might have had a minor-suit squeeze.

Declarer therefore took the diamond ace and played the spade king and a spade to the ace. Next, she passed the club jack as West ducked, and then ran the club 10, ruffed by East, who returned a diamond for two down.

In the other room Lynn Deas, of the winning team, played four spades from South, the “wrong” side. The defense led a heart to the jack, then played the king and ace of hearts and another heart. West ruffed the fourth heart with the spade nine, but Deas overruffed in dummy, played the spade king, and guessed to lead a spade to the eight.

Now she drew the last trump, passed the club jack, and advanced the club 10, covered by the queen and king. Deas now knew she needed the diamond finesse, so she cashed the club ace, ruffed a club to hand, and ran the diamond queen: contract made.

Bid with the aces

South holds:

♠K Q 7 6
♥Q 8 2
♦A 6
♣A K 8 2
SouthWestNorthEast
1 ♦
Dbl.Pass1 ♠Pass
?

Answer: A simple raise to two spades is quite enough. This is a constructive sequence, and since your partner’s range is 0-9 points, you do not have to drive him to game. Partner should be able to appreciate that with a decent hand and five spades, he has enough to advance.