BRIDGE

Both vulnerable. North deals.
NORTH
x -A K Q
u -K 8 7 5
v -A K 10 4
w -3 2
WEST EAST
x -10 9 6 4 x -8 5 3
u -Q 10 3 u -A 9 6 2
v -? 6 5 3 v -? 2
w -10 8 w -K Q 9 7
SOUTH
x -J 7 2
u -J 4
v -Q 8 7
w -A J 6 5 4
The bidding:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1v Pass 1NT Pass
3NT Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Ten of x
Treat this hand as a double-dummy problem. Looking at all four hands, how would you make three no trump after the lead of the ten of spades?
North opened one diamond, intending to jump to two no trump had South responded with one of a major. When South bid one no trump, the jump to game was obvious.
West led the ten of spades. Declarer has seven sure winners and, because of a dearth of entries to the South hand, making it difficult to set up club tricks, it might seem that the fulfilling trick must come from the red suits. However...
Win the opening spade lead in dummy perforce and lead a club. If East splits his honors, the hand is easy. Duck East's queen of clubs, win the likely spade return and take the club finesse. Cash the ace of clubs, concede a club and you have at last nine tricks -- three each in spades, diamonds and clubs. But what if East plays low on the first club lead?
Insert the jack, which wins. Cash the ace of clubs and concede a club, discarding a spade honor from the table. Win the spade return, come to hand with the queen of diamonds and concede a club, discarding a heart from the board. East must either put you back in hand with the jack of spades or break a red suit for you. In either case, you can wrap up the contract.
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. Send e-mail to gorenbridge@aol.com.
& copy; 2006, Tribune Media Services