Both vulnerable. South deals.

Both vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
J 7 2
4 2
8 7 6 5 4 3
6 3
WEST EAST
6 9 8 4 3
J 8 6 5 K Q 9 7 3
K Q 10 2 J 9
Q 10 7 2 9 8
SOUTH
A K Q 10 5
A 10
A
A K J 5 4
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
2 Pass 2 Pass
2 Pass 4 Pass
6 Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: King of
If you would like to test your skill, cover the East-West cards and decide: How would you play six spades after the lead of the king of diamonds?
South's two clubs was an artificial game force and, after North's waiting response, South bid his major suit. North's jump to game showed three-trump support and denied possession of an ace, king or singleton. Could South do anything other than leap to slam?
Obviously, if clubs are 3-3, declarer can claim. Win the diamond, cash the ace and king of clubs and ruff a club. Draw trumps and cash the winning clubs for 12 tricks. However, the odds favor or 4-2 club division. Can South counter that?
Yes, by switching the ruff from clubs to hearts with the help of a loser-on-loser play. After winning the ace of diamonds and cashing the ace and king of clubs, continue with a third club but, instead of ruffing, discard a heart from dummy. Best return is a trump. Win in hand and lead a club, trumping with the table's jack. Return to hand with the ace of hearts and ruff a heart, then return to hand with a diamond ruff to draw trumps and cash your long club for the fulfilling trick.
Note that it is necessary to trump a second club before ruffing a heart -- you need the ace of hearts as an entry to hand. Try it if you doubt us.
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.
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