Bridge - The Scotsman 23/12/2011

Friday’s bridge...

THIS freak comes from the SBU Winter Congress Swiss Teams. North was convinced that West must have good spades for his 3NT bid, so she led a club. Declarer played low from dummy, and South, looking at four spade winners, inserted the queen. West won and returned a club, and North took the king. South threw the nine as a suit preference signal, but North still could not believe that there were four cashing spades. When she switched to hearts declarer made eleven tricks in his no-play contract. Recriminations abounded. Should South insert the eight of spades to ensure that the jack was not a dummy entry? Should North realise that partner’s play of the queen meant he had four spade winners?

The squabbling stopped when the partnership discovered that they had gained 12 imps on the deal. Their East bid 3S rather than 3D, a jump cue asking partner to bid 3NT with a spade stopper. This action generally shows a seven-card solid suit, and West was not tested to work out which. 3NT could make only if dummy had a side entry, in which case 6D must be a good contract. A club lead beats even 5D if South inserts the eight, but North led a spade. Declarer ruffed and drew trump in four rounds. South, who could not see West’s hand, discarded two spades. Declarer crossed to hand twice with top hearts to ruff two more spades, establishing three winners to take care of dummy’s losers and make all 13 tricks.