BRIDGE

Avoidance

Dealer: West

N-S vulnerable NORTH

♠A76

♥K2

♦J87 ♣KQ932 WEST EAST ♠Q1085 ♠43

♥854 ♥J97 ♦643 ♦AKQ52 ♣J104 ♣765 SOUTH ♠KJ92 ♥AQ1063

♦109

♣A8

W N E S Pass 1♣ 1♦ dbl Pass 2♣ Pass 3♥ Pass 4♥ All Pass Opening Lead: ♦3

East played three rounds of diamonds as declarer ruffed the third and drew trump with three top hearts. He switched to clubs and claimed an overtrick when that suit divided 3-3, N-S +650.

If clubs had been 4-2, a club ruff would have established the fifth one for another eleven tricks.

South's negative double had promised both majors but his three heart rebid was forcing, revealing five or more hearts. North had little choice but to raise to the major suit game because he did not own a diamond stopper.

Curiously, quite a few pairs had landed in 3NT with North as declarer where East swiftly cashed five diamond winners to reap a one-trick set.

Every time, the nine- trick game was defeated. It is possible at these tables that North mistakenly chose to rebid 1NT over the negative double, culminating in the poor result.

Perhaps East declined to overcall which would explain the 1NT rebid. It is, however, difficult to imagine why East would pass the one club opening holding ace-kingqueen fifth of diamonds. This action would guarantee a diamond lead from partner against any contract declared by South.

Questions on bridge can be sent with a stamped, self-addressed envelope to The New Canadian Bridge c/o Torstar Syndication Services, One Yonge St., Toronto, M5E 1E6. Copyright 2022 Torstar Syndication Services