Neither vulnerable. South deals.

Neither vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
x Q 10
u A K 10 9 7 2
v K 8
w 10 6 3
WEST EAST
x K 3 2 x A J 9 8 6 4
u Q 6 5 3u J 8
v 10 7 2 v 6 5
w Q 8 5 w 7 4 2
SOUTH
x 7 5
u 4
v A Q J 9 4 3
w A K J 9
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1v Pass 1u 2x
3v Pass 3u Pass
4w Pass 4v Pass
5v Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: King of x
A silence hung over the card room at the club. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, sitting East-West respectively, were playing the Great Detective's archenemy, Prof. Moriarty, and the fate of the match depended on the outcome of this deal, the last of the challenge.
Moriarty and his partner bid to five diamonds, brushing aside Holmes' pre-emptive jump overcall. Watson led the king of spades and continued with a spade to his partner's ace. After a few moments cogitation, Holmes returned the jack of hearts!
A thunderous look crossed Moriarty's features. "Curse you, Holmes," he shouted, as he threw his cards on the table, flung aside his chair and stalked out of the club.
"I say, Holmes, what was that all about?" inquired the good doctor.
"Elementary, my dear Watson! It was obvious that the professor's diamond holding was solid and that our setting trick had to come from clubs, so I returned the knave of hearts!"
"I don't understand, Holmes. Why not then simply shift to a club?"
"That might have been good enough against most players, but not against someone of the undoubted ability of Moriarty. He would have won in hand and run six diamond tricks. You would have to find three discards. You could afford to part with one spade and one heart, but your third discard would have established whichever suit you sluffed. By returning the jack of hearts, I removed Moriarty's key entry to dummy before it could be put to good use. Down one."
& copy;2005 Tribune Media Services
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