BRIDGE

Both vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
x Q 7 2
u K Q 10 3
v A 9 3
w K 7 2
WEST EAST
x K 9 6 x A 10 4 3
u 6u 8 5 2
v Q J 10 7 2 v 8 5 4
w 10 6 5 3w Q J 8
SOUTH
x J 8 5
u A J 9 7 4
v K 6
w A 9 4
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1u Pass 2NT Pass
4u Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Queen of v
Janice Nelkin of Turnberry, Fla., came to bridge late in life, and her goal became to earn Life Master ranking -- the top category for tournament players. Despite contracting a debilitating disease, she never gave up, and finally made the grade a few weeks ago. This deal helped her achieve her goal.
North's two no trump, by agreement, showed a forcing raise in hearts with four-card support. South's jump to four hearts showed a minimum opener while denying a singleton.
West led the queen of diamonds and the problem was easy to diagnose. Since there was a sure club loser, declarer had to limit her spade losers to two. If she had to break the suit herself, that could only happen if one of the defenders held both the ace and king of spades. A better chance was to make the defense help.
Declarer won the opening lead in hand with the king, drew three rounds of trumps and then cashed the ace of diamonds and ruffed the table's remaining diamond before exiting with ace, king and another club. Whichever defender won was faced with a Hobson's choice: lead a minor suit, allowing declarer to ruff in one hand while discarding a spade from the other, or break spades. No matter which line the defense adopted, declarer would lose only two spades and a club.
& copy;2006 Tribune Media Services