Congratulations, bridge players. The recent St. Charles Sectional was well attended, with Jack Bryant named 2015 Player of the Year. Other highlights included Alan Popkin winning a whopping 52.81 masterpoints and George Markus and Tom Oppenheimer winning their second straight Open Paris Event. With this month’s hand, declarer bid and made six ♥s via a dummy reversal.

« The bidding:

S
2 ♣
2 ♥
4 ♣
6 ♥

W
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass

N
2 ♦ (waiting)
3 ♥
4 ♦
Pass

E
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass

Both: Vul
Opening lead: ♦ King

NORTH
♠ J 8 2
♥ J 9 8 7
♦ A 7 4 3
♣ 9 2

WEST
♠ K 10 4 3
♥ 6 5 4
♦ K Q 10 8
♣ 7 6

EAST
♠ Q 9 6
♥ 2
♦ J 9 6 5
♣ J 10 8 5 4

SOUTH
♠ A 7 5
♥ A K Q 10 3
♦ 2
♣ A K Q 3

[the play]
1. West led the ♦ King, Ace from dummy, East the 5, and declarer the 2.
2. North the ♦ 3, East the 6, South ruffed with the ♥ Ace, and West the 8.
3. South cashed the Ace and King of ♣s.
4. The ♥ 3 is led to dummy’s 7.
5. ♦ 4 is ruffed by South’s King.
6. The ♥ 10 was overtaken by dummy’s Jack.
7. The last ♦ is trumped with the ♥ Queen.
8. South’s 3 of ♣s is trumped in dummy.
9. The ♥ 9 draws the last trump.
10. ♠ 2 to the Ace.
11. ♣ Queen is played and is declarer’s 12th trick.
Declarer’s dummy reversal was well-played and earned a very good score.

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