Both vulnerable. South deals.

Both vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
K 10 7 3
K 5
A Q 3
10 7 5 4
WEST EAST
9 8 6 5 2 Void
J 10 7 4 9 8 3 2
9 6 J 10 8 7 4
A J K Q 6 3
SOUTH
A Q J 4
A Q 6
K 5 2
9 8 2
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1NT Pass 2 Pass
2 Pass 4 Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: Jack of
More often than not, a 4-4 fit in a major will produce at least the same number of tricks, if not one more, at the suit contract as at no trump. Even a bad trump break can often be neutralized. Consider this deal.
The auction is normal. With a ruffing value in hearts, North used the Stayman convention to probe for a spade fit, and bounced into game when one was located.
West led the jack of hearts, and it appeared that there were 10 tricks at both the suit and no trump games. That all changed when, after winning the first trick with the king of hearts, declarer led a trump to the ace and East showed out. Now declarer had to prevent losing a trick to a ruff by West. If declarer carelessly cashes every winner in sight, West will get to ruff the third round of diamonds for the setting trick, since South cannot avoid losing three club tricks.
Correct technique will triumph. After learning of the unfortunate trump division, South can afford to draw one more round of trumps with the king and then must cash the ace and queen of diamonds. Next, declarer crosses to ace of hearts and continues with the queen. If West ruffs, declarer overruffs in dummy, returns to hand with a trump and draws West's remaining fang. The king of diamonds is the fulfilling trick.
If West follows to the third heart, declarer discards dummy's remaining diamond and leads the king of diamonds. When West ruffs, declarer overruffs and scores his high trumps, conceding only three club tricks.
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. Send e-mail to gorenbridge@aol.com.
& copy; 2006, Tribune Media Services