Bridge - The Scotsman 12/01/2012

Today’s bridge...

THE European Bridge Champions Cup is an annual event for the top ten teams at the most recent European Championships, plus the host country and the holders. In December Italy notched up their eighth win in ten attempts, regaining the Trophy from the holders, Netherlands.

On this deal Norberto Bocchi gave Israel’s declarer a problem. The lengthy Puppet Stayman auction uncovered the spade fit, and Roman Keycard Blackwood revealed one missing keycard. As Bocchi held it he saw little point in leading his singleton. He chose a passive diamond, to the jack, queen and king. Declarer crossed to dummy in clubs to lead a spade to the ten – and Bocchi ducked his king. Declarer could now cash ace of trump and claim, conceding one trick to the king of spades, but he feared that South might have four spades. He played ace of hearts, heart ruff and took a second spade finesse, losing to Bocchi’s king. King of hearts forced dummy to ruff with its last spade, and when Birman played a club to hand to draw the last trump, Bocchi ruffed for one down.

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An even more complex Italian auction saw East declare 6S, and Israel’s South led a club. Sementa played ace of hearts and ruffed a heart before leading a spade, also ducked by North. Now declarer ruffed a third heart to take a second spade finesse – and North was helpless. Whatever he led gave declarer access to dummy to draw trump.

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