BRIDGE

East-West vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
x 10 9 5 2
u K 6 3
v Q
w K 10 8 7 6
WESTEAST
x J 7 6 4x K 8 3
u 10 9 2u A 4
v A J 10 8 5v K 9 4 3 2
w 2w 9 5 3
SOUTH
x A Q
u Q J 8 7 5
v 7 6
w A Q J 4
The bidding:
SOUTHWESTNORTHEAST
1uPass2uPass
4uPassPassPass
Opening lead: Two of w
Listen carefully to the bidding and follow the play. There is a wealth of information to be mined there.
South's leap to game in hearts is rather aggressive. It did have the advantage of revealing little about South's holding to the defenders, but West, John Mohan of Santa Monica, Calif., found the winning defense anyway.
Mohan led his singleton club and won in dummy with the ten. A low trump was led, taken by East with the ace, and the nine of clubs was returned, ruffed by West. It was vital to get back to the East hand for another club ruff, and the only possible entries were the king of diamonds and ace of spades. Which card was partner more likely to hold? There was a clue in the auction.
West knew the defense held two aces -- one in his hand, and partner had already shown up with the ace of hearts. Would South have jumped to game at his second turn holding just one ace and a collection of kings and queens? Probably not. Backing his analysis that South held the ace of spades, Mohan led a diamond away from his ace!
East won with the king and returned another club, ruffed for the setting trick. If this play had gone wrong, it would have cost a diamond trick, but the chance to defeat the contract made it a worthwhile risk.
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