ETCETERA / Bridge

SOUTH faced a strange bidding problem on this deal and having solved it reasonably successfully found himself with an equally baffling problem in the play. He fell at the second hurdle although there was a possible solution.

Playing a Strong Club system South decided, in view of his distribution and controls, to open One Club although he was a couple of points short for his bid. His troubles started when West overcalled with One Diamond, South's seven card suit]

North bid Two Clubs, South Two Hearts (what else?) and north rebid his clubs. A diamond bid by South at this point would have sounded like a cue- bid in support of clubs, so South was forced to bid his hearts again.

Eventually the bidding ended in Six Hearts. West led the king of diamonds and, as diamonds were sure to be over ruffed by East the only hope lay in dummy's clubs.

Declarer ruffed the opening lead on the table, ruffed a club in hand, and drew trumps in four rounds throwing a spade and a club from dummy.

Then he cashed the ace of diamonds, discarding the queen of spades crossed to the ace of spades, and tested the clubs. They did not break evenly and South ended with only ten tricks.

Suppose that on the last two trumps and the ace of diamonds, declarer throws one spade and two clubs from dummy. Then he finesses the queen of spades and follows with the ace, king and another club. East wins but has nothing but spades left and dummy is brought back to life.

----------------------------------------------------------------- North ----------------------------------------------------------------- S. A Q 2 H. 6 3 2 D. none C. A K 10 7 6 5 2 South S. 4 H. A K Q J 5 D. A 8 6 5 4 3 2 C. none West S. K J 8 6 3 H. 9 D. K Q J 10 7 C. J 4 East S. 10 9 7 5 H. 10 8 7 4 D. 9 C. Q 9 8 3 -----------------------------------------------------------------