Neither vulnerable. South deals.

Neither vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
x J 5 3
u A Q 5 2
v 8 6 3
w K 7 3
WEST EAST
x K 9 x 10 8 7 4
u 10 6 4 3 u J 9
v A 10 5 2 v J 9 7 4
w J 8 5 w 10 9 4
SOUTH
x A Q 6 2
u K 8 7
v K Q
w A Q 6 2
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
2NT Pass 3NT Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: Two of v
Cover the East-West cards. As South, how would you play three no trump after the lead of the two of diamonds?
Playing a 15-17 point no trump, South's two no trump shows 20-22 points. With a balanced 10 points, North was a whit short of investigating slam, and the immediate raise to game is the obvious move.
Wet led the two of diamonds and, despite a combined point count of 30, nine tricks were by no means sure. Technically, with eight fast tricks after the opening lead, you could try for a 3-3 break in either hearts or clubs for a ninth trick and, if neither succeeds, fall back on the spade finesse. That's a combined chance of about 85 percent. The trouble is that, in adopting this line, you might be establishing the setting trick for the defense.
There is another chance that might be a sure-trick line. West's lead of the deuce suggests that diamonds are breaking 4-4 and, if that's the case, the spade finesse can be taken with safety. Cross to dummy with a heart and lead a spade toward the queen. If it wins, the contract is secure and you can play for overtricks. If it loses to the king and a diamond comes back, that should give the defenders no more than three diamond tricks and a spade, and the jack of spades is your fulfilling trick.
& copy; 2005 Tribune Media Services
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