BRIDGE

Breathless

Andrew Robson

YOU may not approve of the bidding of Todd Carmichael (North) and Joel Wooldridge (South) on this week's hand. Todd is 23 years old and Joel just 18, and I remember feeling that every deal should be bid to slam when I was their age just in case it could be made.

Declarer's play, however, was breathless for any player, let alone for an 18-year-old. Making 6♦ on this week's deal helped the partnership to win a major American tour- nament. Can you play it as well as Joel?

Dealer North 44 2 V 10 8 7

♦ 5 3 2 K Q 9 5 3 #

North-South 49 7 6 VA K J

• A Q J 4 2

vulnerable

5 4

4K QJ 108 V9 5 2 • J 7 6 4 108

8 4

N W E S

A 3 V Q 6 3

• K 109 4 A 7 6

The Bidding

South West North East — — 1V 14 2♦ pass 24 pass 34 pass 4♦ pass 6♦ pass pass pass Both North's 24 bid and South's 34 bid showed a good hand with no clear direc- tion and asked partner for further descrip- tion. Unable to bid Notrumps for the lack of a 4 stopper, North retreated to 4*. Evidently South expected a better hand with stronger ♦ support and thus the inel- egant 6♦ contract was reached.

West led 44 and declarer won 4A. He cashed dummy's •A and •Q, crossed to VQ, cashed •K, felling the two remaining trumps and discarding a 4 from dummy. He followed by cashing dummy's three Vs, discarding his losing 4. He then trumped a 4 and exited with a low 4 towards dummy's 4J. West rose with 4Q, but was then forced to lead a 4 himself. His low 4 lead was won by dummy's +J and declar- er's last two cards were +A and a trump.

Lucky that West held both 4 honours? Certainly, but declarer had played the cards in the only sequence to bring home the contract.