GOREN BRIDGE

North-South vulnerable, North deals

NORTH ♠ K ♥ K J 10 5 4 ♦ A Q 5 4 2 ♣ 9 2

WEST ♠ 10 8 2 ♥ Q 8 6 3 ♦ 3 ♣ Q 10 7 6 4

EAST ♠ 6 4 ♥ 7 2 ♦ K J 9 8 6 ♣ K J 8 5

SOUTH ♠ A K Q J 9 5 3 ♥ A 9 ♦ 10 7 ♣ A 3

The bidding: NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST 1♥ 2NT* 3♦** 5♣ Dbl Pass 6♣ Pass 6♦ Pass 7♠ All pass *Both minors **Forcing with spades

Opening lead: Three of ♦

Today's deal is from the recent World Championships in Poland. South was Kaare Bogo, from Norway. Bogo's first bid was part of the common defense to East's bid. Three clubs or three diamonds would show hearts or spades, respectively, with at least invitational values. Bidding three of either major directly would be competitive and not forcing. Bogo rose with dummy's ace at trick one and drew trumps. He only had 11 top tricks. The heart suit might give him two more, but a winning heart finesse would not be enough and a 3-3 heart split was not possible after East followed to two spades. Needing something good to happen, Bogo began to run his trumps. This was the position with one trump remaining:

NORTH ♠ Void ♥ K J 10 5 ♦ Q ♣ Void

WEST ♠ Void ♥ Q 8 6 3 ♦ Void ♣ Q 10

EAST ♠ Void ♥ 7 2 ♦ K J ♣ K J

SOUTH ♠ 3 ♥ A 9 ♦ 10 ♣ A 3

Bogo cashed his last spade and West had to discard a club to keep all his hearts. Dummy and East discarded diamonds. Bogo cashed the ace of hearts and led a heart to dummy's jack for a winning finesse. The king of hearts ruined East, who had to discard the king of diamonds or a club, giving Bogo a thirteenth trick either way. He chose a club and the three of clubs took the last trick. Beautifully played!

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