Both vulnerable. South deals.

Both vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
S-A J
H-Q 7 2
D-A Q J
C-A Q 10 7 3
WESTEAST
x 10 9 8 6 5 2 x 7 4
u J 8 6 5 u 9 4
v 10 4 v 9 8 7 5 3
w 5 w J 8 6 2
SOUTH
x K Q 3
u A K 10 3
v K 6 2
w K 9 4
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1w Pass 2w Pass
3NT Pass 7NT Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: Ten of x
Beware of contracts that look too easy for words. The shoals of distribution are lurking to wreck the careless mariner.
If the auction looks somewhat strange, it is because North-South were playing inverted minor suit raises. North's two clubs was forcing, promising a minimum of five clubs and at least 11 points, while denying a four-card major. South's jump to three no trump promised a balanced 18-19 points, and North saw no reason not to bid what he expected partner could make.
West led the ten of spades and South thought there were tricks to burn. He won the first trick in dummy with the ace and cashed the ace and king of clubs, only to find that East held a stopper in the suit and that a 13th trick was sorely needed. The only chance was to find the jack of hearts guarded no more than twice. That was not to be, and the grand slam failed by a trick.
The hand is actually a useful lesson in counting. Declarer should start by cashing the major-suit winners, discarding a club from dummy on the third spade. When East sluffs a diamond on the third round of both hearts and spades, 10 of West's cards are known -- six spades and four hearts. Next, the ace and king of diamond are played off and, when West follows to both, the defender cannot have more than one club. When West follows to the ace of clubs, East is marked with the jack. Declarer continues with a club, finessing the nine, cashes the king, then gets back to the table with a diamond to score the queen of clubs for the 13th 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
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