BRIDGE
Well placed
Andrew Robson
WITHOUT West's take-out double of 1+, there would be no way North-South could bid to (or want to bid to) 6+. As it was North, Jeremy Reiss, was able to upgrade his red suit holdings — his honours were sitting over West's — and he propelled South, Richard Pollitzer, upwards. Can you match declarer's technique?
Dealer South 4Q .1 102 VA Q 10 ♦ K 9 8 2 +8 5 4 A 6 5 VK 6 3 ♦ A Q J +104 3 Both vulnerable 4 4K 9 7 4 3 V8 7 5 4 ♦ 7 6 +9 2
7 6
N W E S
The
8 V J 9 2 • 10 5 3 +AK QJ
Bidding
South West North East 1+ double redouble 24 3+ pass pass pass 6+ pass West led 40 and declarer won dummy's 4A. West's top of a sequence lead marked East with 4K. Placing VA, 11Q and •K with West to justify his bid, how should declarer maximise his chances?
At trick two, Richard crossed to +A and led •10, correctly covered with •K and won by dummy's •A. He then played three more rounds of trumps. In order to protect his red suit holdings, West discard- ed two 4s, and dummy discarded one 4. Declarer crossed to •Q and trumped dummy's last 4, ridding West of his remaining 4. He then led his last trump.
West's five remaining cards were VAQ10 and X98. He was forced to dis- card V10, to prevent dummy's fourth • from becoming a winner by virtue of length. Dummy, down to VK63 and •J4, discarded •4 — it had served its purpose. Declarer now led V2. West rose with VA and led •9, but dummy's •J won and VK felled West's 'Q. The last trick — declar- er's 12th — was taken with V.T.
Previous page
