Bridge Puzzle

Opening lead: seven of clubs.

This deal was played in the match between Ireland and Denmark at the 1960 women’s world championship. The Danish East-West pair were playing an opening three-notrump bid as “gambling,” indicating a long, solid minor suit with very little else on the side.

The Irish South overcalled with four spades, and the Danish West, aware that her partner’s long suit was clubs, bid five clubs with the 7-4-2. North then decided to do some gambling of her own by raising the ante to six spades. She reasoned that, given the bidding by the opponents, South had at most one club. This proved to be a good decision when South proceeded to make the slam on a squeeze.

West led a club, and East won and continued the suit, ruffed by declarer. South played four rounds of trumps, West discarding a club and two diamonds. Declarer then finessed the queen of diamonds, cashed the ace and ruffed a diamond to produce this position: 

When South next led the eight of spades, West was forced to discard a heart. As a result, declarer lost no heart tricks and so made the slam.

At the other table, the Danish pair holding the North-South cards stopped at four spades, giving the Irish a substantial pickup on the deal.

For details about local bridge events, go to the HK Contract Bridge Association website www.hkcba.org