Master Spades: DealM025

Ambush.

North
10 9 7 6 4 3 2
8
5
A 9 8 7

West
K 8
A K J 10 6
10 9 6
Q 4 3

East
A Q
7 5 3 2
A J 3
K J 6

South
J 5
Q 9 4
K Q 8 7 2
10 5 2

The bidding:

South	West	North	East
1	3	4	4

South led the

The right time to underbid is not when you intend to play like a kitten, but when you plan to pounce like a tiger. North's hand is ideal for setting purposes -- long spades and good 'shape.' To discourage East from reducing his bid, North underbid and called four.

The plan worked; East made his normal call of four. Had North bid higher, East would have lowered his bid as required to bring the table total to 12.

Despite the terrible fit between the North-South hands, East and West had no chance to make seven tricks. North ruffed the second heart and led spades. When he regained the lead he led spades again, crashing the honors. East and West could only take six tricks: their two red aces, two spades, and two clubs.

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