Both vulnerable. North deals.

Both vulnerable. North deals.
NORTH
K 9 5 2
A K J 4
7 2
K 7 5
WEST EAST
? 8 7 6 ?
8 6 Q 7 5 2
Q J 10 6 5 K 9 4 3
10 8 Q J 9 4
SOUTH
A J 4 3
10 9 3
A 8
A 6 3 2
The bidding:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1 Pass 2NT Pass
3NT Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Queen of
If you are lucky, you have more than one line that will let you make your contract. If you are very fortunate, you might be able to combine your chances. But that might require correct technique.
With an all-prime hand and a ruffing value, it might have been wiser for South to respond to one club with one spade rather than two no trump. Not that four spades would have been any bargain with the bad breaks that existed.
Against three no trump, West led the queen of diamonds, putting declarer under pressure. Now, declarer could not afford to lose a trick since the defenders had set up their suit with the opening lead. Fortunately, declarer could combine the chances in the major suits.
Since there was no point to holding up, declarer won with the ace of diamonds and immediately led a spade to the king. The good news was that the queen of spades dropped; the bad news was that, since declarer had only three spades tricks, he would have to take the finesse and the slam goes down.
Declarer did not spot the importance of the nine of spades. At trick two, declarer should have cashed the ace of spades. When East drops the queen, declarer can take four spade tricks by finessing the nine of spades and is home with four spades, two hearts, two clubs and the ace of diamonds.
If nothing good happens on the ace of spades, declarer continues with a spade to the king. If that fetches the queen, the contract can be claimed. If it does not, declarer can fall back on the heart finesse for nine tricks.
& copy; 2006 Tribune Media Services
Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.