Both vulnerable. South deals.

Both vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
x 8 5 4
u 9
v 10 8 4
w A K Q J 8 5
WEST EAST
x Q 10 6 3 x 9 7
u Q 7 5 3 u 8 2
v A K 3 v Q J 9 6 5 2
w 4 2 w 9 6 3
SOUTH
x A K J 2
u A K J 10 6 4
v 7
w 10 7
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1H Pass 2C Pass
2S Pass 3C Pass
4H Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: King of v
The appearance of a solid suit in dummy poses a threat to the defense. You must do what you can to neutralize it.
South's bidding described a good hand with 4-6 in the majors. On this particular holding a contract of five clubs would be unbeatable, but what if South held six hearts to 100 honors missing the ace, with two diamonds and one club as his minor-suit holdings? There would then be three top losers at clubs.
West led the king of diamonds and East signaled with the six. At trick two West shifted to a club. Declarer won in dummy and led a trump to the king, continuing with the ace and jack of hearts. Had the queen dropped or had trumps split 3-3, declarer would have been home with overtricks. But West was able to win with the queen, lead a second club and could ruff the third club, stranding declarer with a losing spade -- down one.
Wasn't West taking a risk? What if declarer's minor-suit holding had been three diamonds and no clubs?
Before committing to a line of defense, ask yourself: "Can this line give declarer a contract he could not make otherwise?" Ask that question now and West's defense gets a passing grade. In that event, declarer could score five heart tricks, two spades and two clubs, or nine in all --- still down one.
& copy; 2005 Tribune Media Services
Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.