Both vulnerable. North deals.

Both vulnerable. North deals.
NORTH
J 4
K 9 8 4
A K 3
J 10 5 2
WEST EAST
K 10 9 3 8 7 6 2
A 7 6 2 Q
Q J 9 10 8 6 4
K 6 8 7 4 3
SOUTH
A Q 5
J 10 5 3
7 5 2
A Q 9
The bidding:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1 Pass 1 Pass
2 Pass 3NT Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: Three of
It is sometimes difficult to decide whether a play is sheer inspiration or logic. Decide which it was on this deal from a team match.
At both tables the North-South pairs were playing a forcing club system, hence North's one diamond opening bid and not one club. Both pairs located the 4-4 heart fit but elected to play for the nine-trick game rather than the 10-trick one.
At both tables the play started off in the same way. West led a spade, declarer played the jack and, when it held, ran the jack of clubs to West's king. Since the play to the first trick marked South with the ace-queen of spades, West needed to find partner with the queen of hearts as the only chance for a fast entry to lead a spade through declarer's tenace, and so he shifted to a low heart.
At one table, declarer played low, East's queen won and a spade back sealed declarer's fate. No matter how declarer wriggled, the defenders had to come five tricks -- two in each major and the king of clubs -- before declarer could rake in nine. At the other table, Norwegian star Geir Helgemo, shot up with the king of hearts. When the queen fell under his majesty, declarer had the time to make 10 tricks. What's your verdict -- luck or logic?
Let's suppose that West's hearts were headed by the queen. Since South more than likely held the ace for his bidding, West would not find it easy to lead away from the queen of hearts, since that might set up the suit for declarer. That was enough for declarer to elect to rise with the king and make his contract.
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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