Both vulnerable. South deals.

Both vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
x 9 5 4
u A 10 9 8
v Q 7
w Q J 10 8
WEST EAST
x J 10 8 3 2 x K Q 6
u K 5 3 2 u 7 4
v 6 2 v 9 8 5 3
w 4 2 w A 6 5 3
SOUTH
x A 7
u Q J 6
v A K J 10 4
w K 9 7
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1v Pass 1u Pass
2NT Pass 3NT Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: Jack of x
When playing or defending a hand, consider all 13 cards. Which suit you play can be influenced by what has transpired in another. Consider this hand.
The bidding is textbook. South described a balanced hand of 18-19 points, so North had no reason to consider any action other than three no trump.
West led the jack of spades, East covered with the queen and South allowed it to hold. East continued with the king, taken with declarer's ace.
Declarer can count seven winners -- five in diamonds and the two major-suit aces. Either hearts or clubs can be developed for the extra tricks needed to fulfill the contract. Does it make any difference which suit South tackles first?
All the difference in the world -- declarer will have no second chance! As soon as the opponents gain the lead they will be able to take three more spade tricks for a one-trick set -- the play to the first two tricks makes it certain that spades are 5-3.
A 50 percent chance is better than none at all. At trick three declarer should run the queen of hearts. When that wins, the finesse is repeated and declarer can come to 10 tricks.
Tackling clubs would have resulted in down one.
& copy;2006 Tribune Media Services
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