BRIDGE

Both vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
xJ 7
u10 7 4
vA Q J 7 3
w K Q 4
WEST EAST
xK Q 10 3 2 xA 9 8 4
u5 3uA 8 6
v9 6 4 2 v5
w 9 7w J 10 8 6 5
SOUTH
x6 5
uK Q J 9 2
vK 10 8
w A 3 2
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1u Pass 2v Pass
2u Pass 4u Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: King of S
Here is another example of the do-it-yourself defense to take partner off the hook. How can East ensure the defeat of South's four-heart contract?
The first round of the auction posed no problem. On the second round, South had to decide between rebidding hearts or raising partner's diamonds. The solidity of the heart suit made South select the former, and North's raise to game ended the auction.
West led the king of spades and East, anxious to get a diamond shift, followed with a discouraging four. After some thought, West decided there was no hurry to shift to a diamond. Instead, West chose a club at trick two. Declarer won in dummy, forced out the ace of hearts, drew the outstanding trumps and claimed 12 tricks.
Whether West should have found the diamond shift is debatable. What is clear is that East can see that a diamond ruff will set four hearts one trick, and that the queen of spades is an entry to the East hand. At trick one East should overtake the king of spades with the ace and return his singleton diamond. East can then win the first trump lead with the ace and return a spade to partner's queen. There is no way West can go wrong. A diamond back allows East to ruff for the setting trick.
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