BRIDGE

North-South vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
x K 7 5 4 3 2
u K J 9 6
v 9 4
w 8
WEST EAST
x Q J 9 6 x 10
u 8 5 u 7 3 2
v K 10 7 v A 8 6 2
w Q J 9 5 w K 6 4 3 2
SOUTH
x A 8
u A Q 10 4
v Q J 5 3
w A 10 7
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1NT Pass 2w Pass
2u Pass 4u Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: Queen of w
"Be prepared," the motto of the Boy Scouts, is quite applicable to the bridge table. A healthy dose of pessimism works well when you're planning the play.
The auction is routine. After a one-no-trump opening and a Stayman inquiry, locating the 4-4 heart fit, North's hand is clearly worth a raise to game. Had South denied a four-card major, a bid of two spades by North would have been a game try in the bid suit.
Note that, after a club lead, the eight-card spade suit cannot make game as the cards lie -- two tricks each in spades and diamonds have to be lost. The eight-card heart fit can produce 10 tricks if declarer can hold the spade losers to one. Obviously, if spades break 3-2 it makes no difference what South does, so the gloomy view that spades are 4-1 should be adopted. And a 4-1 heart break might cause problems as well.
After winning the ace of clubs at trick one, declarer should first test trumps. When both defenders follow to two rounds of hearts, declarer must guard against a possible 4-1 spade split by abandoning hearts for a moment -- if declarer pulls the outstanding heart and then goes after spades, the defender who wins the first spade trick can remove dummy's entry by forcing a club ruff on the table.
Care is still needed. The ace of spades is cashed and a low spade is led and ducked! No matter how the defense proceeds, declarer will be able to trump a spade to set up the suit. For instance, a club return is ruffed on the table, a spade is ruffed high and dummy is entered with a trump to run the spades.
& copy; 2004 Tribune Media Services