BRIDGE

Both vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
x Q 10 7
u 10 6
v K J 10 9 4
w 10 7 2
WEST EAST
x A 9 x J 6 4 2
u Q 9 5 3 u 4
v Q 8 6 5 v A 7 3 2
w A J 5 w 9 8 6 3
SOUTH
x K 8 5 3
u A K J 8 7 2
v Void
w K Q 4
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1u Pass 1NT Pass
4u Dbl Pass Pass
Pass
Opening lead: Five of v
There is such a thing as being too strong. Take a look at this deal.
Since North's one-no-trump response tends to deny a four-card spade suit, South had a difficult rebid. Four hearts is certainly a reasonable shot, and West's double is somewhat speculative.
West was, in effect, endplayed at trick one. Move any one of West's high cards, except the trump queen, to the East hand, and the defense would have had a better shot. The low-diamond lead was probably as good as any. Declarer played the nine from dummy, fetching the ace which declarer ruffed. Declarer led a low spade, West followed with the nine and dummy's queen won. The seven of spades was ducked by East and South, and West had to capture with the now bare ace.
West was again on the spot. Since a diamond would allow declarer to take the finesse and discard a card from each black suit on the winning diamonds, West tried a low heart. That only delayed the inevitable.
Declarer won with the jack, cashed the ace and king of trumps and exited with a trump. West's misfortune was complete. No matter which minor-suit West returned (if it is a low club, declarer plays the ten from dummy), declarer would be able take care of the two losing minor-suit cards in hand and limit his losers to one trick in each suit except diamonds. Try it.
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