clubbed to death

by Mark Horton

Hoping to relax for a few minutes, Tacchi and I made our way to the VuGraph theatre to watch the end of the Round 11 match between USA 1 and Norway in the Bermuda Bowl.

Board 28. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
	♠ Q J 7 5 4 ♥ 4 ♦ J 10 7 2 ♣ K 8 5
♠ A K 3 ♥ 10 8 7 6 ♦ 9 ♣ 10 9 6 3 2		♠ ♥ A K Q 5 ♦ A 6 5 4 3 ♣ A Q J 7
	♠ 10 9 8 6 2 ♥ J 9 3 2 ♦ K Q 8 ♣ 4

Open Room

As you can see, despite the 4-1 trump break 6♥ is cold because the club king is onside.

However, Tor Helness had his own idea about that and he threw a huge spanner into the works when he led the five of clubs!

After a suitable pause – as Reese would have said, to show that he suspected a trap – declarer went up with the ace of clubs – and down went the contract.

Closed Room

Although East/West failed to derive the maximum benefit from their team-mates brilliant lead, Norway still picked up 11 IMPs

Board 29. Dealer North. All Vul.
	♠ 7 2 ♥ 9 8 6 3 2 ♦ J 5 ♣ Q 9 7 5
♠ 10 5 ♥ A J 10 7 5 ♦ A 6 3 ♣ J 6 3		♠ K 8 4 ♥ Q ♦ K Q 10 9 7 2 ♣ A 8 2
	♠ A Q J 9 6 3 ♥ K 4 ♦ 8 4 ♣ K 10 4

Open Room

2♣ was a transfer to hearts and when West supported diamonds it was a mild surprise to see East fail to advance to 3NT.

South led a trump. Declarer won in hand and advanced the queen of hearts. South covered and declarer quickly claimed 11 tricks, +150.

Closed Room

A swing was guaranteed when the Norwegians bid up to 3NT.

The VuGraph commentators had noticed that a low club lead would force declarer to rely on the heart finesse, but there was no doubt that declarer would take it and bring home his game.

However, they had reckoned without South’s ability occasionally to conjure IMPs out of thin air.

Zia did indeed lead a club – but he selected the king!!

Do you blame declarer for assuming that South had started life with the ♣KQ?

He won in hand, took six rounds of diamonds and played a club. Zia had already disposed of the ten of clubs so North took three tricks in the suit and played a spade. One down, -100 and a stupendous 6 IMPs to USA 1.