BRIDGE

Both vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
x -A J 9 4
u -10 5
v -10 7 3
w -J 7 5 4
WEST EAST
x -8 x -10 6 3
u -A Q J 7 4 3 u -9 8 6 2
v -Q 8 6 v -J 9 4
w -A 8 2 w -Q 9 6
SOUTH
x -K Q 7 5 2
u -K
v -A K 5 2
w -K 10 3
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1x 2u 3x Pass
4x Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Six of v
This deal could have been lifted straight out of a book on card play. It was, however, dealt at the recent Summer North American Championships.
North's jump to three spades was preemptive. With a six-loser hand, South's raise to game was aggressive, but there was no way to invite game and South was just two pips away from coasting home.
West led the six of diamonds, declarer played low from dummy and East inserted the nine. Declarer won with the ace and exited with the king of hearts to West's ace. West returned the queen of hearts. South ruffed and drew trumps in three rounds. Since he needed the defenders to open the club suit for him, South completed the strip and endplay by cashing the king of diamonds and conceding a diamond to the queen.
West had to break the club suit for South since a heart would present declarer with a ruff-sluff and, with it, the contract. The defender found the only play to offer a chance -- he led the deuce of clubs. Declarer correctly played low from dummy and East carefully inserted the nine. Declarer would win cheaply with the ten but then had to lead away from the king, and the defenders scored the ace and queen for down one. Switch the seven and nine of clubs, and the hand cannot be beaten.
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