Neither vulnerable. North deals.

Neither vulnerable. North deals.
NORTH
x -7 2
u -5 2
v-A Q J 9 4
w -A K Q 4
WEST EAST
x -Q J 10 5 4 x -A 9 3
u -A Q 9 7 u -J 10 4
v-7 v-6 5 3 2
w -9 6 2 w -8 5 3
SOUTH
x -K 8 6
u -K 8 6 3
v-K 10 8
w -J 10 7
The bidding:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1v Pass 1u 1x
2w Pass 2NT Pass
3NT Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Queen of x
It is important to count your tricks. It is as urgent to keep track of your opponents'. It might be all you need to know for a winning campaign.
The auction was straightforward. North had the high-card count but not the distribution or major-suit stoppers for an opening bid of one no trump. But, when South invited game in no trump, it was obvious that he had to hold high cards in the major suits, and North certainly had ample values to accept.
West led the queen of spades, and both declarer and East paused to take stock. East could count eight tricks in dummy (if West held the king of diamonds, it could be picked up with repeated finesses), and the opening lead made it obvious that South held the king of spades for a ninth trick. It was imperative, therefore, that the defenders collect four fast tricks, and the only place to find them was in hearts.
East rose with the ace of spades at trick one and immediately shifted to the jack of hearts. Declarer ducked, and ducked again when East, after winning with the jack, continued with the 10. Whether or not South covered, there was no way to prevent the defenders from collecting four heart tricks.
As Yogi Berra might have put it: "It's always right to return partner's suit unless it's wrong!"
& copy; 2005 Tribune Media Services
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