Today’s deal is from a major competition held recently. It typifies the fierce competitive nature of modern tournament bridge. South made a disciplined pass at his first turn, but discipline was the last thing on West’s mind — he was out stealing! He responded one no trump on his pile of junk in an effort to muddy the waters for North-South. He muddied them for East instead.
Three no trump doubled would have rolled home on any defense, but South ran to four hearts, hoping it was a safer contract. It wasn’t, but South did his best. The opening diamond lead was won by dummy’s king as East ducked. A heart saw the king captured by declarer’s ace, and the eight of clubs was passed to East’s king. East, endplayed in three suits, did his best by cashing the ace of diamonds and leading another diamond. West ruffed and shifted to a high spade, but South had a good idea at this point as to what West had done in the auction.
South rose with dummy’s ace of spades and ruffed a club. He crossed back to dummy with a heart to the jack and ruffed another club, felling the ace. Declarer ruffed his remaining diamond with dummy’s seven of hearts and discarded his remaining spade on the queen of clubs. South claimed with nothing but high trumps remaining. Well played!
