BRIDGE

Both vulnerable. West deals.
NORTH
x A 8 3
u J 10 9 6
v 6 4 2
w 7 5 2
WEST EAST
x 6 x 7 4
u A K Q 5 3 u 8 7 4 2
v J 9 7 3 v K Q 10
w K 10 4 w J 9 8 6
SOUTH
x K Q J 10 9 5 2
u Void
v A 8 5
w A Q 3
The bidding:
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
1u Pass 2u 4x
Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: King of u
Entries are often a precious commodity. Husband them, put them to good use and you are on your way to becoming a bridge star.
The auction took no time at all. West's one-heart opening was raised by partner, and South's four spades ended the bidding.
West led the king of hearts, East following with the eight to show diamond values. As long as trumps break 2-1, South can claim the contract. Can you spot the winning line?
Declarer overcame the first hurdle by ruffing the opening lead with the king. Next, the queen of trumps was led and overtaken with the ace, both defenders following. The table's jack of hearts was played and, instead of ruffing, declarer discarded a diamond!
West took his queen and shifted to a diamond, but it was too late. Declarer won with the ace, overtook the six of trumps with dummy's eight and led the ten of hearts, sluffing his remaining diamond.
The diamond return was ruffed, the two of spades to three provided the entry to take a club discard on the nine of hearts and, though the club finesse failed, declarer lost only two heart tricks and a club, thanks to a rather unusual twin loser-on-loser line.
XThis column is written by Tannah Hirsch and Omar Sharif. For information about Charles Goren's newsletter for bridge players, call (800) 788-1225 or write Goren Bridge Letter, P.O. Box 4410, Chicago, Ill. 60680
& copy;2004, Tribune Media Services
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