Both vulnerable. North deals.

Both vulnerable. North deals.
NORTH
x K Q 10 8 2
u K 5
v Q 9 7 4
w 8 7
WEST EAST
x 6 x 7 4
u J 8 7 2 u A Q 6 4 3
v 10 8 3 2 v K 6 5
w ? 9 5 2 w ? 6 3
SOUTH
x A J 9 5 3
u 10 9
v A J
w K J 10 4
The bidding:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
Pass Pass 1x Pass
3x Pass 4x Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: Two of u
Have you ever wondered why some players you know seem to take every right guess at the table? Perhaps it is because there really is no doubt about the lie of the cards. This deal is educational.
Had South not been a third-hand opener, the North hand would have been good enough to jump to game. But North decided not to hang partner for a possible light opening bid and made a limit raise, and South had enough to accept.
West led the two of hearts, declarer played low from dummy and East inserted the queen, which won. East cashed the ace of hearts before shifting to a low club. Should South play the ten or the king? Is it a pure guess? If not, why?
Although this is only the third trick, South already has enough information to make a winning decision. He has already lost two tricks, and has a sure loser in the ace of clubs. That not only means that South must make a correct decision now, but that the diamond finesse must succeed.
Declarer places East with the king of diamonds and, since East has already shown up with the ace-queen of hearts, making 9 high-card points, he would surely have opened the bidding if he held the ace of clubs into the bargain. Therefore, the only hope is to find East with the queen of clubs. Declarer takes the finesse and, if it wins, the contract succeeds as the cards lie, losing only two hearts and a club.
& copy; 2006 Tribune Media Services
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