BRIDGE

Both vulnerable. North deals.
NORTH
x A 5
u A K J 10 8 6
v 7
w K J 4 3
WESTEAST
x Q 10 8 4 2x K 3
u Qu 9 7 5 2
v K J 8 4v 9 6 5 3
w Q 6 2w A 10 8
SOUTH
x J 9 7 6
u 4 3
v A Q 10 2
w 9 7 5
The bidding:
NORTHEASTSOUTHWEST
1uPass1x Pass
3uPass3NTPass
PassPass
Opening lead: Four of x
Greg Woods of Westport, Conn., teaches courses on defense at New York's prestigious Regency Whist Club. On this deal from rubber bridge, he showed he practices what he preaches.
South had a difficult rebid problem after North's jump to three hearts. The fact that North held a good six-card heart suit swung the pendulum in favor of action with the South hand, and most would simply raise to four hearts. However, South decided that nine tricks might be easier to come by than 10 and elected to bid three no trump despite having no stopper in clubs.
Despite South's response, Woods elected to lead his best suit. Declarer ducked in dummy, East won with the king and returned a spade to the ace. Since declarer wanted to get to hand for a heart finesse, he tried a diamond to the queen, losing to the king. He got no other chance to try for nine tricks.
Woods cashed the queen of spades for his side's third trick, then exited with the queen of hearts. Declarer could take six heart tricks, but then had to lead a club away from dummy, giving the defenders two more tricks. Down one.
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