North-South vulnerable. South deals.

North-South vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
A 7 4
Q
A J 10 3
K 10 5 4 3
WEST EAST
K Q 10 8 3 9 6 2
J 10 7 6 3 8 4
Q 8 7 4
Q 8 A J 9 6 2
SOUTH
J 5
A K 9 5 2
K 9 6 5 2
7
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1 1 2 Pass
2 Pass 4 Pass
4 Pass 4 Pass
5 Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: King of
This hand was dealt in a team game. How would you play five diamonds after the lead of the king of spades?
When North took the time to cue-bid spades en route to five diamonds, South decided that his high-card count of only 11 militated against any aggressive action. Five diamonds became the final contract.
At both tables, the play to the first three tricks was the same. Declarer captured the opening lead with dummy's ace and cashed the ace of diamonds, dropping West's queen. Next the queen of hearts was cleared.
Here their paths diverged. At one table, declarer came to hand with the nine of trumps and cashed the ace and king of hearts, discarding the table's spade losers. East ruffed the third heart and returned a spade. Declarer ruffed but was trapped in dummy. Declarer could no longer avoid losing a club and a heart -- down one. Try it.
At the other table, declarer took care to open a line of communication between his hand and dummy. After cashing the queen of hearts, declarer led a low club from the table, not caring which defender took the trick. South was now in charge. No matter how the defenders would continue, the contract was safe. South can ruff his low hearts high in dummy using club ruffs in hand as entries, and eventually draw trumps with his own master trumps. The defenders cannot collect more than one trick in each black suit.
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
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