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BRIDGE BITES  #19

 

 

WHAT DOESN’T HAPPEN

                                                                               Brian Gunnell

 

In Bite #18, our astute Declarer remembered that his opponent had opened the bidding, sensibly deduced that said opponent must have the missing high cards, and then played the hand accordingly.  This week’s deal is a bit more difficult, as Declarer must be alert to something which did not happen!

                                                    E-W Vulnerable

                                                   West    North   East     South

                                                   Pass   Pass    Pass   1NT

                                                   Pass    2♣        Pass   2♠       

                                                   Pass    3♠        Pass    4♠

                                                   Pass    Pass    Pass

 

♠ 9542

QT32

K43

♣ A4

       Dummy

 

West            East

 

      Declarer

♠ QJT3

A75

AQ8

♣ K97

 

N-S crawl into 4♠ after a Stayman auction and West leads the ♣J.  It looks like a simple enough hand, and so it is.  Declarer loses two trumps and must avoid also losing two Heart tricks.  How would you play the hand?