BRIDGE

Both vulnerable. North deals.
NORTH
x J 9 5 4
u A Q J
v A
w A K J 5 2
WEST EAST
x Q 7 6 2 x Void
u 9 6 4 u 10 8 7 3
v K Q 10 8 v J 9 7 5 2
w 9 4 w Q 10 8 3
SOUTH
x A K 10 8 3
u K 5 2
v 6 4 3
w 7 6
The bidding:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1w Pass 1x Pass
4v Pass 6x Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: King of v
You are often faced with a choice of ways to proceed to make your contract. Counting your tricks can help you decide on the correct line.
North's jump to four diamonds was a splinter bid, showing a singleton in the bid suit while guaranteeing four-card support for spades. With no wasted values, South proceeded directly to slam. (Change the king of hearts to the king of diamonds, and four spades would have been enough.)
West led king of diamonds, taken with the ace in dummy. A spade to the king revealed the bad trump split and declarer paused to take stock. There were 10 easy tricks available -- four spades, three hearts, one diamond and two clubs. One way to go after the two extra tricks was to rely on the club suit, but a normal division 4-2 break could prove insurmountable. A far simpler line was to ruff two diamonds on the table.
With no further ado, declarer abandoned trumps and ruffed a diamond, returned to hand with the king of hearts and trumped his remaining diamond. The two high hearts and ace-king of clubs were cashed to remove West's safe exit cards. Now the jack of spades was run and, regardless of how West defended, the queen of spades would be the only trick for East-West. Try it.
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