Both vulnerable. North deals.
NORTH
♠K
♥Q J 2
♦4 2
♣A K Q J 6 5 3
WEST EAST
♠A 7 5 3 2 ♠J 10 8 4
♥10 9 6 ♥K 8
♦Q J 9 7 ♦A 5
♣10 ♣9 8 7 4 2
SOUTH
♠Q 9 6
♥A 7 5 4 3
♦K 10 8 6 3
♣Void
The bidding:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1♣ Pass 1♥ Pass
2♠ Pass 3♦ Pass
3♥ Pass 3♠ Pass
4♣ Pass 4♦ Pass
4♥ Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Ten of ♣
Italy grabbed the early lead in their European Championships match against Iceland, but Iceland soon struck back.
The Italians had a fairly normal auction to four hearts — North's two spades was an invitational heart raise. After a couple of probing bids, four hearts was the final contract.
West led the ten of clubs, taken in dummy as declarer parted with a spade. The king of spades lost to the ace, a diamond was led to East's ace and a diamond was returned. Declarer won with the king and led a low heart to the queen and king. Back came a club and the defenders now had to score another trump trick. Declarer ruffed low, West overruffed, a diamond return was ruffed high in dummy, declarer drew trumps and conceded down one.
In the other room the contract was four hearts by North after a strong club opening and a transfer sequence. The opening lead was the jack of spades and declarer made 10 tricks — 13 Imps to Iceland and Italy's lead was down to two. Eventually, Italy emerged winners by exactly that margin. (09/01/10)
e-mail: gorenbridge@aol.com


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