BRIDGE

North-South vulnerable. North deals.
NORTH
x Q 2
u A K 8 7 5
v 6 5
w K Q 7 4
WEST EAST
x K 8 7 x 5 3
x 3 u Q J 10 9 6
v A K 10 9 3 2 v Q J 4
w 9 8 6 w 5 3 2
SOUTH
x A J 10 9 6 4
u 4 2
v 8 7
w A J 10
The bidding:
NORTH EAST SOUTHWEST
1u Pass 1x 2v
Pass 3v 3x Pass
4x Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: King of v
Accurate defense requires a "conversation" between the defenders. There are many signals whereby a defender can describe a feature of his hand to partner, and that might be crucial to setting the contract.
The first round of the auction was simple enough. North passed on the second round with his minimum opening bid and no particular fit for partner. However, when South could still suggest a spade game, the doubleton queen in partner's suit was enough for North to raise to game.
West led the king of diamonds, and partner dropped the queen. There are only two holdings from which the queen can be played -- either if partner holds the jack into the bargain, or if the queen is singleton. West needed no more information to find the winning defense.
At trick two West shifted to his singleton heart. Declarer was well aware of what the opponents were trying to do to him. After winning in dummy with the king of hearts, South led the queen of spades from the table and, when East did not cover, he rose with the ace and continued with the jack. West won with the king, underled the ace of diamonds and East won with the jack. The heart return was automatic and West's ruff was the setting trick.
& copy; 2005 Tribune Media Services