North-South vulnerable. East deals.

North-South vulnerable. East deals.
NORTH
K Q 10 8 6 4
8 6
9 5 3
8 3
WEST EAST
9 7 2 A 5 3
K 10 2 Q J 7 5 4
J 10 8 6 4
Q J 9 7 6 A 2
SOUTH
J
A 9 3
A K Q 7 2
K 10 5 4
The bidding:
EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH
1 2 2 2
Pass 3 Pass 3
Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Two of
Study the bidding and play of this deal from the recent Spring North American Championships and decide: Is the result normal, or did someone err? If so, who is the guilty party?
It is difficult to fault anyone in the auction, although three spades by North-South is cold. The combination of the 10 of spades in the North hand and the jack with South solidifies the suit.
Against three diamonds, East won the first trick with the jack of hearts and shifted to a trump. Declarer won in hand and led the jack of spades. East won and led another trump, taken by declarer. After cashing the ace of hearts, declarer ruffed a heart with dummy's remaining trump, cashed two spade winners on the table for two club discards from hand and ended up with an overtrick when a club to the king held.
What's your verdict?
Put the blame on East. When declarer leads the jack of spades, East must allow it to hold. Now declarer can only win one spade, one heart and a ruff, five trump tricks and a club. Down one. However, South should have overtaken the jack with the table's queen, and East would have had no recourse. So, perhaps, in the end equity was restored.
& copy;2006 Tribune Media Services
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