BRIDGE

Both vulnerable. West deals.
NORTH
xQ 5 4 3 2
u6 2
v5 2
w A Q 7 6
WEST EAST
xJ 10 9 8 6 x7
uA Q J u10 9 8 7 3
vK J 4 v10 9 7 6
w 5 2 w 9 8 3
SOUTH
xA K
uK 5 4
vA Q 8 3
w K J 10 4
The bidding:
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
1x Pass Pass Dbl
Pass 2w Pass 3NT
Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Jx
Don't consider those people seated to the right and left of you at the bridge table as your enemies. On many occasions you can enlist their help, albeit unwilling, to land your contract. Consider this deal.
Since balancing bids in the fourth seat can be made with weaker holdings than in the direct seat, most good hands have to start with a takeout double. Here a bid of two no trump by South on the second round would show only the equivalent of a one-no-trump opening bid, so South had to jump in no trump to show his powerful hand.
West led the top of the spade sequence and, despite being able to count only eight sure tricks, once East followed to the first spade, nine tricks could be assured as long as West held no more than four clubs. Declarer won in hand, cashed the remaining high spade followed by four club tricks, ending in dummy, West parting with one card from each of the red suits.
With the groundwork done, declarer completed West's ruin by cashing the queen of spades and exiting with a spade. West scored two spade tricks as South let go two diamonds and a heart. But now West had either to lead a diamond into South's ace-queen or a heart up to the king. Both plays would give South his ninth 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