Both vulnerable. South deals.

Both vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
x -J 4
u -K Q J 4 3
v -K Q J 10 2
w -4
WEST EAST
x -A K 10 6 2 x -9 5
u -10 8 6 5 2 u -A 7
v -7 v -9 8 6 4 3
w -10 8 w -Q J 9 2
SOUTH
x -Q 8 7 3
u -9
v -A 5
w -A K 7 6 5 3
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1w Pass 1u Pass
1x Pass 3v Pass
3NT Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Six of x
Each trick must be won in its time. Win it early or late, and you could be heading for disaster.
It is easy to get too high on this deal. South's first good move was to bid one spade rather than rebid the six-card club suit. Since two diamonds would have been the fourth suit, a forcing bid which does not promise a long suit, North jumped to three diamonds, and South's three no trump ended the auction.
West led the fourth-best spade and declarer correctly played low from dummy -- playing the jack would have won the trick but lost the game; when East would gain the lead with the ace of hearts, a spade back would give the defenders four spade tricks and a heart. East followed with the nine and declarer allowed it to hold the first trick. A spade back lost to the king, and West continued with the ace and another spade, setting up a long card in his hand.
Now came the time to hope for the best. Declarer led a heart and breathed a sigh of relief when East turned up with the ace. Nine tricks were in the bag -- South conceded only three spade tricks and a heart.
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X This 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.
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