East-West vulnerable. West deals.

East-West vulnerable. West deals.
NORTH
x 10 9
u J 5
v J 7 6 5 2
w K 9 5 3
WEST EAST
x 7 5 2 x K 6
u Q 7 u A K 10 9 8 6
v A K 10 9 4 3 v Q
w 8 2 w J 10 7 6
SOUTH
x A Q J 8 4 3
u 4 3 2
v 8
w A Q 4
The bidding:
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
2v Pass 2u 2x
3u Pass 4u 4x
Pass Pass Dbl Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: King of v
Study this deal from an English team championship match and decide: Would you rather play or defend four spades doubled after the lead of the king of diamonds?
West's two diamonds was weak and East's two hearts showed a good suit but was not forcing. The rest of the auction was natural. Since the bidding marked North for heart shortness, South's four spades was a reasonable two-way shot -- it might make or it might be a cheap sacrifice against a makable four hearts by East-West.
Suppose you elect to defend. West led the king of diamonds and switches to the queen of hearts. You realize that a heart continuation would allow declarer to make the contract by ruffing his losing heart so, to prevent partner from erring, you overtake with the king and return a trump. That runs to the ten and declarer calls for the jack of hearts. You win with the ace and return another trump. Declarer wins in hand and runs trumps, coming down to the four of hearts and three clubs in hand and four clubs in dummy. Since you have to guard against declarer's heart, you are forced down to three clubs and dummy's four clubs score the remaining tricks. Four spades doubled, bid and made.
However, you were right to elect to defend. Suppose that, at trick two, West were to shift to a trump. As long as West retains the queen of hearts, the defenders can remove dummy's second trump and the contract must fail. Try it!
& copy;2006 Tribune Media Services
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