BRIDGE

Both vulnerable. North deals.
NORTH
x K 5 2
u K 6
v 8 7
w A K 10 8 4 2
WEST EAST
x 9 7 4 x Q J 8
u 9 7 5 3 u Q J 10
v A Q 9 4 3 v 10 5 2
w 5 w J 7 6 3
SOUTH
x A 10 6 3
u A 8 4 2
v K J 6
w Q 9
The bidding:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1w Pass 1u Pass
2w Pass 3NT Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: Four of v
Follow declarer's play on this deal, then decide: Was the hand played at rubber bridge or duplicate?
Holding two four-card majors, South correctly responded in the lower-ranking major suit to North's one-club opening bid. When North rebid clubs, South's three no trumps accurately described both the shape and strength of the holding.
West led his fourth-best diamond, covered by the seven and ten and won with the jack. Declarer crossed to dummy with the king of hearts and led a low club, finessing the nine when East followed low. When that held, declarer cashed the queen, crossed to the king of spades and ran the clubs. The two major-suit aces brought South's total to 11 tricks.
South's avoidance play in clubs is excellent technique, but it cannot be afforded in duplicate. Odds on the five missing clubs breaking no worse than 3-2 are almost 70 percent. Throw in the possibility of a singleton or doubleton jack of clubs with West, and playing clubs from the top is a prohibitive favorite. Finessing the nine of clubs makes sure of the money, but rates to be a bottom score at duplicate pairs.
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