BRIDGE

Both vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
x -6 4
u -Q 10 5 2
v-K 10 4 2
w -Q 9 6
WEST EAST
x -3 x -A 7 5 2
u -J 7 6 4 u -8 3
v-Q J 7 3 v-A 9 8 5
w -8 7 4 2 w -A 5 3
SOUTH
x -K Q J 10 9 8
u -A K 9
v-6
w -K J 10
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1x Pass 1NT Pass
4x Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Queen of v
Even a seemingly solid trump position can prove vulnerable to attack. Consider this deal.
The auction cannot be faulted. To rebid less than four spades with the South hand would be pusillanimous indeed.
West led the queen of diamonds, covered by the king and taken with the ace. East returned a diamond, forcing declarer to ruff. Declarer led the king of spades to the ace and back came another diamond, and once again South had to trump. The 4-1 split now doomed the contract. Declarer could not afford to draw trumps before forcing out the ace of clubs, but East took his ace and returned a diamond to defeat the game.
Declarer could have assured the contract with a simple play -- he should not have covered the queen of diamonds at trick one. If West continues with a low diamond, declarer can insert the 10 and ruff away the ace; if West continues with the jack, declarer covers with the king and ruffs away the ace. Either way, there will now be a high diamond on the table to control the suit.
Declarer forces out the ace of trumps and wins any return. After drawing trumps, declarer drives out the ace of clubs and claims the rest of the tricks. South loses only the three aces and coasts home.
& copy; 2005 Tribune Media Services
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