Both vulnerable. South deals.

Both vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
A Q J
7 6 3 2
J 9 8
Q J 10
WEST EAST
9 8 7 5 10 6 4 3 2
5 9 4
A Q 6 2 7 4
8 6 3 2 9 7 5 4
SOUTH
K
A K Q J 10 8
K 10 5 3
A K
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
2 Pass 2 Pass
2 Pass 3 Pass
4 Pass 4 Pass
6 Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Nine of
South, declarer at six hearts, received the only lead to cause a problem. Did he play the hand to best advantage?
South's two clubs was an artificial game force and two diamonds was a waiting bid. Thereafter, the rest of the auction was natural. South started a cue-bidding sequence with four clubs and North's four spades showed a control in that suit and, since it bypassed four diamonds, denied first-round control of that suit. South's jump to six hearts ended the auction.
West's spade opening lead removed declarer's only entry to dummy at trick one. South rose with the ace of spades, discarded two diamonds on the queen and jack of spades and led the jack of diamonds. There was no way declarer could make a winning guess in the suit -- down two when East ruffed the third diamond.
South was doubly unlucky -- the opening lead was deadly and his line stood a 50 percent chance of success. However, he did overlook the best shot -- an almost 80 percent line to bring home the bacon. It depended on little more than finding clubs breaking no worse that 5-3.
Declarer must rise with the ace of spades at trick one and, on the queen and jack of spades, unblock the ace and king of clubs! That frees up dummy's clubs for three diamond discards from hand, and declarer loses only one diamond trick.
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.
& copy;2006, Tribune Media Services
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