Both vulnerable. South deals.

Both vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
x 9 8 3
u 8 5 2
v 6 4
w J 10 9 4 3
WEST EAST
x 2 x 7 5 4
u Q J 10 7 u K 9 6 4 3
v K J 9 2 v 10 7 5
w K 8 6 2 w 7 5
SOUTH
x A K Q J 10 6
u A
v A Q 8 3
w A Q
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
2w Pass 2v Pass
2x Pass 3w Pass
3v Pass 4x Pass
6x Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Queen of u
How do you fancy your chances at six spades? We will forgive you if you treat this as a double-dummy problem and look at all four hands.
South's two clubs was artificial and forcing and the two-diamond response was waiting. Three clubs over two spades was negative, and thereafter the auction was natural. South felt that North's jump in spades confirmed at least three trumps and either a card or a singleton in diamonds, so the slam looked good -- at least until dummy hit the table.
West led the queen of hearts, won in the closed hand. Dummy's clubs represented the best shot for the contract, so South cashed the ace of clubs and continued with the queen. West won the king (ducking would also have defeated the contract -- try it) and played another club. East ruffed and, although declarer could overruff, he could not score more than 11 tricks.
Declarer was on the right track, but his technique was faulty. At trick two South should have led the queen of clubs from hand. If West allows the queen to hold, declarer switches horses and cashes the ace of diamonds, concedes a diamond and can ruff two diamonds in dummy, using the ace of clubs and a heart ruff as entries.
If East wins the king of clubs and perseveres with hearts, declarer ruffs high, cashes the ace of clubs then draws three rounds of trumps, ending on the table. Dummy's three winning clubs provide parking places for declarers diamond losers.
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
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