BRIDGE

North-South vulnerable. West deals.
NORTH
x 9
u Q 9 5 3 2
v K Q 6
w Q J 9 8
WEST EAST
x Q J 3 x 10 2
u K u A J 4
v A 7 5 4 3 v J 10 9 8 2
w A 7 4 2 w 10 6 5
SOUTH
x A K 8 7 6 5 4
u 10 8 7 6
v Void
w K 3
The bidding:
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
1v Pass 3v 4x
Dbl Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Ace of v
Here is a chance to test your defensive ability. Can you do as well as the defenders at the table and defeat four spades doubled one trick? We don't mind if you look at all the hands.
Obviously, East's jump to three diamonds was preemptive. However, wild horses could not have prevented South from entering the auction. West elected to double four spades anyway.
West led the ace of diamonds and declarer ruffed. Obviously, declarer needed help from the enemy to get to the table to use the king-queen of diamonds for discards so, at trick two, a sneaky three of clubs was led. West was not taken in. If partner held the king of clubs and declarer held a second club, there was time enough later to win a second club with the king. The defender rose with the ace of clubs and led the king of hearts, which held. Now West exited with a low club to South's king.
There was still one hope. Declarer cashed the ace of spades but West jettisoned the queen! When declarer continued with the king, West completed an excellent defense by ditching the jack. Declarer lost no trump trick, but still had to concede two heart tricks to East for down one.
Notice that if West does not jettison his spade honors, he will have to win the third trump trick and must then provide access to dummy, and declarer's losers vanish in a flurry of discards. Simply brilliant!
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
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