Bridge players come in all colors, shapes and sizes. Their occupations are quite varied, also—lawyers, bankers, system engineers, academics, etc. Ron Ashbacher, a Harrison, Arkansas, expat, is a fishing guide. See if you can match Ron’s play with this month’s hand.

[the bidding]

N
1D
3NT

E
1H
Pass

S
2NT
Pass

W
Pass
Pass

« Opening lead: K
« Cover the East/West hands and see if you can make the contract.

NORTH
K76
K
K J 10 9 3 2
A 6 2

WEST
J 9 3
10 7
7 5 4
K Q J 10 7

EAST
Q 10 8 5
Q 8 6 5 3 2
A
9 3

SOUTH
A 4 2
A J 9 4
Q86
8 5 4

1. West leads the King, 2 from dummy, 3 from East, declarer the 4.
2. Next, from West, the Queen.
3. Ashbacher, using the ‘Rule of Seven,’ played the Ace.
4. Declarer now unblocked the King.
5. Next came the 9, Ace from East.
6. East shifted to the 5, 2 from declarer, West the Jack, and dummy the King.
7. The 2 from dummy, a from East, declarer the Queen, and West the 5.
8. Ace is cashed, 7 from West, 6 from dummy, 5 from East.
9. 8, 7 from West, King from dummy, and a from East.
10. Ashbacher now cashed all but one , resulting in this three-card end position.

NORTH
7

10
6

WEST
9 3


10

EAST
Q 10
Q

SOUTH
A 4
J

1. When declarer led the last , East was forced to discard a.
2. Declarer sluffed the Jack.
3. West also was forced to discard a .
4. Dummy 7 to the Ace, making good the 4.
5. Ashbacher collected two up-tricks for a well-deserved top.

[Do you have a good bridge tip? Email kennethmbland@yahoo.com.]

Photo: Colin Miller of Strauss Peyton