Sunday, January 19, 2003		Bridge

A case of dummy reversal

NORTH’s 2H showed at least five spades. 3H showed a second suit and was forcing to game. South’s 3S was therefore a stronger bid than 4S. Roman key card Blackwood located three aces in the South hand and the 5D follow-up asked about the trump queen. 6S said, ‘Yes, I have the trump queen but no side-suit king.’ North then bid the grand.

How would you have played 7S on a trump lead? Declarer won in the South hand, cashed the diamond ace, and ruffed a diamond. He then overtook the spade jack with the queen and ruffed another diamond.

A heart to the ace permitted a third diamond ruff with the bare ace. Declarer returned to the ace of clubs and drew the last trump. Dummy’s hearts then provided enough tricks for the contract.

It was a fine example of the dummy reversal. Does anything else strike you? A heart or club lead would have beaten the grand! Both leads remove a key entry from the South hand.