North-South vulnerable. North deals.

North-South vulnerable. North deals.
NORTH
x A 3 2
u K Q J
v K Q J 4
w A J 7
WEST EAST
x K J 7 6 4 x Q 10 9 8
u 5 u 10 9 8 7
v A 7 3 v 8 5
w K 9 4 3 w Q 8 5
SOUTH
x 5
u A 6 4 3 2
v 10 9 6 2
w 10 6 2
The bidding:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
2NT Pass 3u Pass
4u Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Five of u
Among the worst of opening leads is a singleton trump. It often picks up a key card in partner's hand, and usually gives declarer a clue to the lie of the cards. Consider this deal.
The bidding was routine. North's opening bid showed 20-22 points. South bid his five-card major and, with such excellent support, North chose the suit game.
Had West led a spade, the normal action from his hand, the contract would probably have been defeated. With the trump lead, declarer's holdings in the plain suits were left intact as he won the opening lead in dummy and cashed a second trump, revealing the 4-1 break.
The problem was obvious: Declarer has 10 tricks and the plan must be to keep control of the hand and avoid conceding a diamond ruff. The solution is very pretty but not easy to spot. Cash dummy's remaining trump honor and now duck a spade!
Best is for West to win the spade and shift to a low club. Duck in dummy and you are in full control. East can return a spade, but you ruff, draw the last trump and force out the ace of diamonds. The ace of spades on the table keeps control, and you can cash out your 10 tricks no matter how the defense proceeds. In effect, you have traded a club loser for one in spades.
& copy; 2006 Tribune Media Services
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