BRIDGE

Both vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
x Q 4 3
u Q 10 9
v J 7 4
w 10 9 8 2
WEST EAST
x 7 6 x A J 10 9 8
u 8 4 2 u 7 6 5 3
v 10 9 8 6 5 v A 3
w 7 6 3 w A 5
SOUTH
x K 5 2
u A K J
v K Q 2
w K Q J 4
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
2NT Pass 3NT Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: Ten of v
Players who willy-nilly do not return partner's suit, are silly -- shun them. Those who do for a good reason are rare -- cherish them.
The auction was textbook. With a balanced 21 points there was no need to consider any opening bid other than two no trump. With a balanced five points and good intermediates, three no trump was the obvious response.
West led the ten of diamonds taken with the ace. East could see 18 points, so the most he could hope for from partner was a jack or queen. That meant there was no future in the diamond suit, and probably no entry to partner's hand. All that East had going was the fact that declarer had no way of knowing the location of the missing high cards The defender found a way to exploit this.
At trick two East shifted to the jack of spades, which declarer ran to the queen. A low club was led to the king and the queen of clubs was continued. East took the ace and reverted to spades, leading the ten.
Declarer had a problem. After some thought he elected to take the play at face value, placing West with the ace of spades. Accordingly, declarer followed with a low spade, hoping that West held the ace of spades guarded no more than twice. That wish was soon laid to rest. East cashed the ace and two more spades -- down two.
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