Neither vulnerable. North deals.

Neither vulnerable. North deals.
NORTH
x A K
u A K
v A J 6 5 3
w J 7 3 2
WEST EAST
x J 7 4 2 x 9 8 5 3
u Q 10 8 6 u 9 7 4 2
v Q 10 9 8 v 4
w 9 w A K Q 8
SOUTH
x Q 10 6
u J 5 3
v K 7 2
w 10 6 5 4
The bidding:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1v Pass 1NT Pass
3NT Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Six of u
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This deal is from their "Test Your Play" section. Cover the East-West hands and decide how you would play three no trump after the lead of the six of hearts.
North might have opened two no trump, but we cannot quibble with one diamond. Thereafter, the jump raise to three no trump was automatic.
"You could play the diamonds but that suit needed to provide only four winners if you can cash the queen of spades safely. In order to accomplish that, you must arrange to lose your diamond trick early, before the third round of spades.
"That suggests this order of play: heart king, spade ace-king, duck a diamond. Later, lead a diamond to the king, cash the spade queen and continue diamonds. That approach works unless the diamond lie is foul" (four to the queen with East).
& copy; 2005 Tribune Media Services
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