BRIDGE

Both vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
x Q 10 5
u A Q J 8
v Q 10
w K 8 7 3
WEST EAST
x 7 3 x J 9 8 6 4 2
u 9 7 5 2 u 6 4
v 6 5 3 2 v K J 9 8
w Q 10 4 w 6
SOUTH
x A K
u K 10 3
v A 7 4
w A J 9 5 2
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1w Pass 1u Pass
2NT Pass 3w Pass
3u Pass 4NT Pass
5w Pass 6w Pass
Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Five of v
It was late in the evening at 221B Baker St. Dr. Watson and the Great Detective were relaxing after helping their club win the Interclub Team Championship. Holmes was puffing away at his favorite Meerschaum while Watson was going over the hand records. The last board had proved decisive.
"I say, Holmes," muttered the doctor, "you were deuced lucky on that last deal. Why on earth did you first try for a discard on your longer suit rather than your shorter suit when there was still a trump out?"
"Lucky," shot back Holmes, obviously aggrieved. "You of all people should know that Sherlock Holmes never relies on luck. It was elementary." Now this was the hand in question.
The same contract was reached at both tables, and the opening lead was identical. Both declarers called for dummy's ten covered by the jack and taken with the ace. Both declarers led a trump to the king and returned a trump, and East's spade discard meant there was a trump loser. Here the two declarers parted ways.
Both won the second club with the ace. The losing declarer took three rounds of spades, discarding a diamond on the last. Unfortunately, West ruffed and the defender took their diamond trick -- down one.
"Had I needed only one diamond discard, I would have played the same way, but I needed two. That could happen only if West, who held the long trump, followed to three rounds of hearts. When East showed out on the third round, it was a simple matter to take a discard on the fourth heart and then dispossess myself of the remaining diamond loser on the third spade as West ruffed! Not too difficult to bring home, Watson."
XThis 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