Finals: Jack versus WBridge5

Board 32 Vul: E-W Dealer: S WEST	NORTH K 2 A Q 10 A 5 A 10 8 6 5 2	EAST
Q 9 7 7 6 5 4 Q 9 7 4 J 9	SOUTH	A 10 6 4 3 J 3 J 8 3 2 K 3
	J 8 5 K 9 8 2 K 10 6 Q 7 4

WEST	NORTH	EAST	SOUTH
WBridge5	Jack	WBridge5	Jack
Pass	1	1	Dbl
Pass	4	All Pass

Opening lead: 3

Result: 4 making 5, +450 NS

4 was a bold bid by North, getting to a probable 4-3 fit but avoiding a spade lead through the K. Note that 3NT by North is down on a spade lead.

At the other table North bid 3 after the negative double by partner and South bid a “gambling” 3NT, and luckily, from the right side of the table.

WEST	NORTH	EAST	SOUTH
Jack	WBridge5	Jack	WBridge5
Pass	1	1	Dbl
Pass	3	Pass	3NT
All Pass

A small spade lead allows 3NT to make while the “impossible-to-find” spade Q lead defeats the contract. The lead of the 9 also defeat the contract if East reads the position correctly. East can duck and later cash A with West unblocking the Q. Jack (West) found this imaginative lead, but Jack (East) make read South for the Q J x (x) and reasonably won the A and led back a diamond, defeating the contract if West started with K 10 x x. With the actual lie of the cards South make 11 tricks. Good play on both sides produced a flat board.