BRIDGE

Both vulnerable. North deals.
NORTH
x A Q 9 7 6 4
u Q 6 5
v K
w A K Q
WEST EAST
x 10 5 3 x K J
u A J 8 7 3 u Void
v 3 2 v A J 9 8 7 4
w 9 8 2 w J 10 7 5 4
SOUTH
x 8 2
u K 10 9 4 2
v Q 10 6 5
w 6 3
The bidding:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1x 2NT 3u Pass
4u Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Three of v
The Unusual No Trump is a two-edged sword. Sometimes it leads to a profitable sacrifice, or even a successful contract. But all too often it blueprints the play for declarer.
With two defensive tricks, East's hand was not the sort with which we would have bid two no trump. If East felt it was incumbent on him to act, an overcall of two diamonds would be our choice. South's three hearts was an act of bravery, and North's four hearts, a gross underbid on this auction, ended the bidding.
West led the three of diamonds to East's ace and the seven of diamonds was returned. With the distribution blueprinted by the auction, declarer finessed the ten, discarding a spade from dummy. Three rounds of clubs were taken, declarer discarding a spade, followed by the ace of spades and a spade ruff, fetching the king. Now, declarer led the queen of diamonds, and West was hopelessly trapped.
Down to nothing but five trumps and the ten of spades, West had a choice of ways to commit suicide. If West discarded the spade, the queen would win and declarer would continue with a diamond. West could ruff with the seven, forcing an overruff with the queen and the defender would score only two trump tricks. If West ruffed, declarer would overruff as cheaply as possible and cash the queen of spades, again fulfilling the contract.
As a general rule, use the Unusual No Trump either with a very weak hand, or a very strong hand with which you intend buying the contract. Using it with in-between hands such as this is more likely to help declarer than serve any constructive purpose.
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