BRIDGE

BRIDGE

Both vulnerable. West deals.

NORTH

x7

uA J 8 4

v8 5 3

wA Q J 10 4

WEST EAST

xA K 8 xJ 9 6 5 4 2

u7 2 u9 3

vK 10 4 2 vQ 7 6

w9 7 5 2 wK 6

SOUTH

xQ 10 3

uK Q 10 6 5

vA J 9

w8 3

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

Pass 1w Pass 1u

Pass 2u Pass 4u

Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: King of x

The auction is straight textbook. Four hearts should be the universal choice in a pair event and a high spade is certainly the right lead. It makes no difference whether you still lead the king from this holding or have switched to ace from ace-king.

One look at dummy is all a good player should need to find the winning defense. Obviously, declarer will have no problem setting up dummy’s clubs to take care of any diamond losers, so it is essential to “git thar fustest with the mostest” in the immortal words of Civil War Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest. At trick two West must shift to a low diamond, declarer capturing East’s queen with the ace. When declarer, after drawing trumps, takes the club finesse, East wins and reverts to diamonds and the defenders take two diamond tricks for a one-trick set. No other defense will prevail, including a club shift and a diamond switch back.

Isn’t leading away from a king dangerous? It definitely could be, and often is, but here an aggressive defense is our only chance. When partner cannot be given the lead in any other way, an attacking defense is called for. When partner cannot be given the lead without setting up dummy’s long suit, it is mandatory!

2013 Tribune Media Services