North-South vulnerable. East deals.

North-South vulnerable. East deals.
NORTH
x K J 10 5
u J 8 7 6
v Void
w A 5 4 3 2
WESTEAST
x 4 3x 2
u K 9 5 2u 10 4 3
v 9 6 3 2v A Q J 10 7
w 9 7 6w K J 10 8
SOUTH
x A Q 9 8 7 6
u A Q
v K 8 5 4
w Q
The bidding:
EASTSOUTHWESTNORTH
1v1xPass2v
Pass3xPass4w
Pass4uPass6x
PassPassPass
Opening lead: Four of x
Here's an opportunity to exhibit your skill. Cover the East-West hands and then decide how you would tackle a contract of six spades after West leads a trump.
North-South conducted an intelligent auction, starting with North's cue-bid of opener's suit after South's overcall. With South's jump rebid in spades and his heart cue-bid in response to North's club cue-bid, North decided there would be good play for 12 tricks.
West led a trump in an attempt to cut down dummy's ruffing power. What now?
Suppose you win in hand, ruff a diamond, cash the ace of clubs and ruff a club for an entry to ruff another diamond. A second club ruff permits a diamond ruff on the table, and the fate of your contract hinges on the heart finesse. Against the odds that loses -- down one when the defenders cash a diamond.
A better line is a technique known as a "dummy reversal." Win the opening lead with a high spade in hand, lead a club to the ace and ruff a club. Cross back to the table with a trump and ruff another club. When both defenders follow, you are home. Cash the ace of hearts and exit with the queen to the king. Assume West returns a diamond. Ruff in dummy and ruff a third club, establishing a long card in the suit. Now dummy is high except for the fourth heart, for which you still have a trump. Six spades bid and made. Well done.
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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