Dutch Treat

Goren Bridge


Bob Jones

Dlr: South ♠ 6 5
Vul: N-S A K 9 8 5 3
A
♣ 8 6 3 2
♠ J 9 7 2 ♠ 4 3
7 6 4 Q J 2
K J 8 3 10 5 4 2
♣ A K ♣ Q 9 5 4
♠ A K Q 10 8
10
Q 9 7 6
♣ J 10 7
South West North East
1♠ Pass 2* Pass
2♠ Pass 2NT Pass
3 Pass 3
3♠ Pass 4♠ All Pass

*Game forcing
Opening lead: ♣K

Aggressive bidding by North-South saw them reach game on a deal where no game contract is sound. South was Ton van Overbeeke of the Netherlands, who did his best.

The blockage in clubs gave declarer a slim chance. West continued with the ♣A at trick two before shifting to a low diamond. South won this with dummy’s ace perforce and cashed the A K to shed his remaining club. Declarer held his breath and ruffed a heart with the ♠8. He now ruffed a diamond in dummy and ruffed a club with his ♠A as West shed a diamond. Another diamond ruff felled West’s king and a club was ruffed high by South as West was forced to underruff. This was the position:

Dlr: South ♠ —
Vul: N-S 9 8
♣ 8
♠ J 9 7 ♠ 4 3
10
♣ — ♣ —
♠ Q 10
Q
♣ —

South led the Q and West was forced to ruff and lead a spade into South’s Q-10. Well played!