Both vulnerable. South deals.

Both vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
Q 10 9
A 6 2
8 4 2
A J 7 4
WEST EAST
A 6 7 5 4 3 2
K 10 9 8 4 3 J
A 7 5 10 9 6 3
8 2 6 5 3
SOUTH
K J 8
Q 7 5
K Q J
K Q 10 9
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1NT 2 3NT Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: Ten of
There is a time for everything under the sun, including winning a trick. Ignore this precept at your peril.
The auction was soon over. South's no trump was classic, and no one can quibble with West's overcall. North's jump to three no trump, impeccable, was passed out.
West led the top of his interior heart sequence and declarer captured East's jack with the queen. Declarer led the king of spades, losing to West's ace, and the defender forced out the ace of hearts. South had only eight tricks and, when he led the jack of diamonds, trying to steal a ninth trick, West grabbed the ace and cashed his hearts -- down two.
The contract was lost because South played too fast to the first trick. West's vulnerable overcall marked him for both missing aces and, since he was missing the A Q J of his suit, he surely held six cards in hearts. All declarer had to do was allow the East's jack of hearts to hold the first trick.
Since East has no heart to return, no matter how the defenders proceed declarer will have time to force out both missing aces before the hearts are set up. Try it.
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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