BRIDGE

Both vulnerable. North deals.
NORTH
x Q
u Q 3
v A Q J 10 6
w A K J 10 9
WEST EAST
x J 7 6 5 x A 3 2
u 8 5 u J 9 7 6 4
v 8 7 4 2 v 9 5 3
w 8 6 2 w Q 7
SOUTH
x K 10 9 8 4
u A K 10 2
v K
w 5 4 3
The bidding:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1v Pass 1x Pass
3w Pass 3u Pass
4w Pass 4NT Pass
5w Pass 6NT Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: Seven of x
When you have more than one long suit as a possible source of tricks, it is often right to select no trump rather than a suit contract. Consider this hand.
The auction was a model of accuracy, with both partners describing their holdings properly. Five clubs promised three of the five key cards (the king of the agreed trump suit is the fifth key card). Faced with a decision on learning one key-card was missing, South wisely selected six no trump as the final contract.
West led the seven of spades against six no trump. East captured the queen with the ace and shifted to a diamond to the king in the closed hand. Declarer cashed the king of spades in an attempt to drop the knave. When that did not succeed, declarer tried the ace and king of clubs. Had the queen not appeared, South could still have succeeded with a finesse for the jack of hearts. When the queen of clubs dropped, the hand was over. Declarer had tricks to burn.
Notice the extra chances available at no trump. Had the slam been bid in clubs, it was, in practice, sure to fail. Suppose a diamond lead. Since trumps have to be drawn before declarer can try for a spade discard on hearts, the percentage play is to cash the king of clubs, cross to hand with the king of hearts try the club finesse. East will win and waste no time in cashing the ace of spades for the setting 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