BRIDGE

South continued with a heart to the nine, discarded a club on the ace of spades and ruffed a spade with the heart queen. West won the trump continuation and cashed the ace of diamonds but South could claim eleven tricks.

Declarer had been rather fortunate that spades had divided 3-3 since the opening lead intimated that West held spade shortness.

West's opening lead had been an abject failure on this layout. Let him begin with the jack of clubs where the defense will be entitled to four tricks. South has no fast dummy entry to dispose of a club on the spade ace.

West had no reason to lead a spade where the jack of clubs would have guaranteed his side the lion's share of the matchpoints.

South's continuation to three hearts was not a game try but merely a competitive call. North was forbidden to advance to game under any circumstance.

A Maximal double of three diamonds was available to South as a conventional bid inviting game whereas three hearts was reserved for use as a sign- off. The reason for this agreement is that there is no room in the auction to make a game try in a side suit.

Author: Dave Willis - visit his website at www.insidebridge.ca

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