BRIDGE

Both vulnerable. East deals.
NORTH
x -J 5 4 2
u -6 2
v -9 3
w -A K Q 5 3
WEST EAST
x -K Q 9 6 x -7 3
u -7 5 3 u -A Q 9
v -10 7 5 4 v -A Q 8 6
w -4 2 w -J 10 8 7
SOUTH
x -A 10 8
u -K J 10 8 4
v -K J 2
w -9 6
The bidding:
EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH
1v 1u Dbl 2w
Pass 2NT Pass 3NT
Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Four of v
Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Whenever possible, try to combine your chances to achieve the maximum result.
West's double of the one-heart overcall was negative -- for takeout, not penalties. North seized the opportunity to show his clubs, With his very healthy overcall, South tried for game with two no trump and North judged that the quality of the five-card suit merited accepting the invitation.
West led the fourth-best diamond, East won with the ace and returned the six, declarer's knave winning. Declarer went after the clubs, playing the suit from the top. Unfortunately, West discarded the nine of spades on the third club, and declarer had to scramble to make seven tricks on a deal where there were 10 tricks for the taking.
Even if the clubs had run, declarer would have needed a heart trick to get home. He should have protected against the possibility of the 4-2 club division by crossing to the queen of clubs at trick three and leading a heart, finessing the ten. When that holds, declarer returns to the table with the king of clubs to cash the ace. When the suit does not break evenly, declarer can lead another heart to repeat the finesse and, no matter what East does, game is in the bag when that suit breaks 3-3 with the queen onside.
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