BRIDGE

North-South vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
x Q 7 4
u K J 7
v 8 6 5 4 2
w A 3
WEST EAST
x J 8 2 x 10 9 6
u A 2 u 10 9 6 5 4
v K 10 7 v Q
w 10 9 8 6 5 w Q J 4 2
SOUTH
x A K 5 3
u Q 8 3
v A J 9 3
w K 7
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1NT Pass 3NT Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: Ten of w
At a recent national championship, three no trump was the popular contract. But not every declarer was successful.
Cover the East-West hands, then decide: How would you play three no trump after the lead of the ten of clubs?
The auction offered no problems. South had a maximum one-no-trump opening and North had enough to raise to game opposite a minimum.
West leads the ten of clubs, which you win on the table with the ace. With six fast tricks, you have to develop three more in a hurry, since you can only afford to give up the lead one more time.
The obvious suit to attack is diamonds. That will produce more than enough tricks either if West holds a singleton honor. Declarer would cash the ace, then cross to dummy with the queen of spades and lead a diamond toward the J 9. This also succeeds if East holds a doubleton honor or if the suit splits 2-2. How do you continue?
Cash the ace of diamonds. An honor does appear, but it is East who drops the queen.
Unless East is trying to fool you or started with king-queen doubleton, the diamonds are dead. Is there another chance?
Yes, a 3-3 spade division. You can test that and keep your all option open by cashing the ace, king and queen of spades. If the suit divides evenly, your fourth spade is the fulfilling trick. By forcing out the ace of hearts and you score four spade tricks, two hearts, two clubs and one diamond. If spades don't break, lead a diamond toward your hand and pray.
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