BRIDGE

East-West vulnerable. North deals.
NORTH
x 9 7 5 3
u A K Q
v J 7 5
w Q J 7
WEST EAST
x A 6 x 2
u J 9 8 5 2 u 10 7 6 4
v 3 v 10 9 8 6 4 2
w 9 8 6 4 3 w A 2
SOUTH
x K Q J 10 8 4
u 3
v A K Q
w K 10 5
The bidding:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1w Pass 2x Pass
3x Pass 4NT Pass
5v Pass 5x Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead; Three of v
Unlike the world at large, good bridge players are usually pessimists. They prepare for the worst, and let the best look after itself.
The auction was simple enough, After South's jump shift response and North's raise, Blackwood elicited the fact that two aces were missing, so South signed off at five spades.
West led the three of diamonds, and South saw no imminent threat to the contract. He led a sneaky queen of spades, trying to look like someone who was missing the ace and king, but West was having none of it. He rose with the ace of spades, exited with a club to partner's ace and ruffed the diamond return -- down one.
While the 6-1 diamond break was unfortunate, a pessimist might have decided to try a precautionary measure. After winning the first trick, declarer takes three rounds of hearts to discard the ace and king diamonds. Now nothing can defeat five spades.
& copy;2004 Tribune Media Services