North-South vulnerable. South deals.

North-South vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
K 7
A 7 6
Q 10 6 2
Q 8 6 3
WEST EAST
Q 10 6 5 3 A 9 8 2
4 Q 10 3
J 9 7 4 3 K 8 5
J 2 A 9 5
SOUTH
J 4
K J 9 8 5 2
A
K 10 7 4
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1 Pass 3 Pass
4 Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Three of
Here's another deal from the semifinal round of the Vanderbilt Knockout Team Championship at the recent Spring North American Championships held in Dallas. Declarer was the former Polish world champion Cezary Balicki.
North's jump to three diamonds, by agreement, showed an invitational raise in hearts. The heart game was reached at both tables. At the other table, after a diamond lead, declarer tried to drop the queen of hearts and, when that didn't work, tried finessing the 10 of clubs. When that didn't work, he went down two tricks.
Balicki received the lead of a low spade (third- or fifth-best). He played low from dummy. East won with the ace and returned the deuce to declarer's king. Since West, at favorable vulnerability, did not overcall one spade, Balicki placed the ace of clubs with East. He therefore elected to cross to the ace of hearts and continue with a trump to the jack. Had that lost, the seven of trumps would have been an entry to take a finesse for the knave of clubs.
When that held, declarer cashed the king of hearts to draw the queen and then made the safety play of the king of clubs from hand -- that guaranteed holding the club losers to two regardless of the distribution of the suit. As the cards lie, however, that held his club losers to one and he emerged with an overtrick. Try it!
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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