Neither vulnerable. South deals.

Neither vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
J 5 3
10 3
A 10 9 5
Q 10 8 5
WEST EAST
K 7 2 Q 9 8 4
J 9 7 6 2 Q 8 4
6 3 2 K 8 4
K 4 7 3 2
SOUTH
A 10 6
A K 5
Q J 7
A J 9 6
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1 Pass 1 Pass
2NT Pass 3NT Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: Six of
Make sure you remove the entries to the danger hand first. Sometimes that could involve surrendering a trick you might not have to lose.
The auction was routine for those employing a range of 15-17 points for an opening bid of one no trump. South's rebid showed a balanced 18-19 points and North had enough to raise to game.
West led his fourth-best heart, East played the queen and declarer did well to win with the king -- a spade shift from East might have been awkward.
South needed to establish tricks in both minors and, since there was no entry to dummy for a club finesse other than in diamonds, declarer elected to run the queen of that suit. East won with the king and reverted to hearts. Declarer held up the ace but was forced to win the next heart with the ace.
Three rounds of diamonds were taken, but that only brought declarer's total to seven tricks. When the club finesse lost, West cashed two more hearts for a one-trick set.
The club finesse was an unnecessary luxury.
Since the only quick side-suit entry to the West hand could be in clubs, South should have attacked that suit first. At trick two, he must cash the ace of clubs and continue the suit. West wins and reverts to hearts, but declarer ducks and, after winning with the ace, takes the diamond finesse. East wins but has no heart to return, and declarer coasts home with nine tricks.
& copy; 2006, Tribune Media Services
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