East-West vulnerable. South deals.

East-West vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
x Q 5
u 7 4 3
v A K J 10 7 4
w 5 2
WESTEAST
x K J 9 8 6 2x A 7
u J 10 2u 8 6 5
v 5 2v Q 9 3
w 6 3w Q J 10 8 4
SOUTH
x 10 4 3
u A K Q 9
v 8 6
w A K 9 7
The bidding:
SOUTHWESTNORTHEAST
1NTPass3NTPass
PassPass
Opening lead: Two of x
Just as bridge experts are capable of stunning play and defense, they are also capable of monumental blunders. This deal from a European championship match between Norway and France is an entertaining battle of misplays.
A simple enough auction landed the French in three no trump, a feat that should be duplicated by the vast majority of players. It did not take long for the expert to take over.
First, West decided it was the time to conceal his spade length from declarer by leading the two of spades.
East won with the ace and, since declarer held no diamond values, decided that South probably held good spade stoppers, so he switched to the queen of clubs! Even then, declarer did not have nine tricks yet so, after winning the club with the ace, South took the diamond finesse. East elected to hold up the queen of diamonds!
At this point, declarer could make the rest of the tricks, but had no idea that the suit was running. What declarer should have done was to return to hand with a heart and cash the remaining high hearts.
When the J 10 dropped from West, declarer would have nine tricks without needing to repeat the diamond finesse! Instead, declarer finessed again, losing to East's queen. Finally, East returned a spade and equity had been restored, with interest.
The defenders took five more spade tricks, and the contract was down three instead of two, the result had the defenders taken the first six tricks with spades.
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
Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.