North-South vulnerable. South deals.

North-South vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
A Q 4
J 6 4 3 2
6 4
10 6 2
WEST EAST
7 6 5 3
10 9 8 K Q 7 5
A J 8 3 Q 9 7 5
K 4 3 9 8 7 5
SOUTH
K J 10 9 8 2
A
K 10 2
A Q J
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1 Pass 2 Pass
4 Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Ten of
The general feeling with regard to high cards is the more the merrier. But you can have too much of a good thing.
This was a typical five-card major sequence. North had no problem raising with only three-card support and South had an easy raise to game.
West led the ten of hearts, taken by declarer with the ace. A spade to the queen provided the entry for declarer to lead a low diamond to the king. West won with the ace and immediately shifted to a trump. Declarer took the trick on the board and led another diamond, taken by West who removed dummy's remaining trump. Declarer still had to lose a diamond and a club -- down one.
Change declarer's king of diamonds for a spotcard and most declarers would have no problem finding the winning line. After taking the first trick with the ace of hearts, declarer should immediately lead a diamond from hand, and he is now a tempo ahead. Although the defenders can lead a trump on both occasions after winning a diamond, there is still a third trump in dummy with which to ruff South's remaining diamond loser, and the defenders collect only two diamonds and a club.
This column is written by Tannah Hirsch and Omar Sharif. For information about Charles Goren's newsletter for bridge players, call (800) 788-1225 or write Goren Bridge Letter, P.O. Box 4410, Chicago, Ill. 60680.
& copy; 2006, Tribune Media Services
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