china's challenge
by Mark Horton

Our hosts are among the favourites in every competition and the challenge of China SMEG in the Bermuda Bowl is spearheaded by the reigning World Pairs Champions, Zhong Fu and Jie Zhao. This example of their brilliant defensive play from this year’s Yeh Bros Cup has already gone around the world:

Dealer East - All Vul.
	♠ 8 6 5 2 ♥ K 9 2 ♦ Q 9 6 ♣ 6 5 3
♠ J 3 ♥ Q J 8 7 6 4 ♦ 7 ♣ Q J 10 4		♠ K 10 9 4 ♥ A 10 ♦ A K 10 5 4 ♣ A K
	♠ A Q 7 ♥ 5 3 ♦ J 8 3 2 ♣ 9 8 7 2

West	North	East	South
Zmudzinski	Fu Zhong	Balicki	Jack Zhao
		1♣*	Pass
1♥	Pass	1♠	Pass
2♥	Pass	3♦	Pass
3NT	Pass	4NT	All Pass

I was commentating on Bridge Base and pointed out that 3NT would make, the main point being that the defenders will never get a heart trick and will eventually have to play either clubs or hearts to declarer’s advantage.

4NT was too high – but as the play developed it took a combination of brilliant plays for the defence to prevail.

North led the six of spades. South took his queen and rather than simply continue spades, he switched to the eight of clubs, declarer winning in dummy as North followed with the six.

Declarer unblocked the ace of clubs and played the nine of spades. South went in with the ace and exited with a spade, declarer winning in the dummy and cashing the remaining spade winner, discarding two hearts from his hand.

Now came the ace and king of diamonds, on which North delivered the queen.

That avoided the first possible endplay.

When declarer continued with dummy’s four of diamonds the crocodile reared his head and South went up with the jack of diamonds, avoiding the second possible endplay.

He exited with a diamond and declarer had to surrender a heart trick at the end.

Declarer lost his way in 3NT in the other room, so it was a flat board.