BRIDGE

Neither vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
x Q J 8 5
u 7 6 3
v 8 4 2
w A Q 5
WEST EAST
x 3 x A 10 9 6 4
u A 8 5 u 10
v K Q 9 7 v 10 6 5
w K 8 6 4 3 w J 10 7 2
SOUTH
x K 7 2
u K Q J 9 4 2
v A J 3
w 9
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1u Pass 2u Pass
4uPass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Three of x
Those players who do not play an honest card no matter what make terrible partners. Those who never play anything else are delightful opponents -- cherish them. A bit of larceny now and then at the table is good for the soul.
South's raise to four hearts is a trifle rambunctious. We would have preferred a game try in diamonds, then accepting partner's decision.
West led the three of spades, declarer played low from dummy and South, in tempo, followed with the seven under East's ace. Playing partner for having started with the deuce as well, East found what might, under other circumstances, have been a good shift to the ten of diamonds, covered by the jack and taken with the queen.
There was nothing better for West to do than continue with the king of diamonds. Declarer won with the ace, finessed the queen of clubs successfully and discarded a diamond on the ace of clubs. When a heart to the king lost to West's ace, no return could harm declarer. South would win whatever West led, draw trumps and claim the rest of the tricks.
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. Send e-mail to gorenbridge@aol.com.
& copy; 2004, Tribune Media Services