Both vulnerable. North deals.

Both vulnerable. North deals.
NORTH
K 10 3
4 3 2
Q
A J 10 8 3 2
WEST EAST
9 6 5 4 2
A J 8 9 7 6 5
K 9 7 6 3 A J 8 4 2
7 6 K 9
SOUTH
A Q J 8 7
K Q 10
10 5
Q 5 4
The bidding:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
Pass Pass 1 Pass
2 Pass 3 Pass
3 Pass 4 Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: Six of
Finding the right suit to which to shift is well and good. But make sure the card you choose carries the right message.
As a passed hand, North's bidding created an invitational sequence. South gave full weight to his queen in partner's suit and proceeded to game.
West led the six of diamonds, won by East's ace. A heart shift was obvious, and East made the standard textbook shift to the fourth-best heart. An alert declarer shot up with the king of hearts, and West had a problem. If declarer had the queen as well, it was correct to hold up the ace and keep the A J tenace over the queen. If not, correct defense was to win with the ace and return the jack of hearts in an attempt to take three heart tricks. After much thought, West chose the latter course, and declarer held his losers to one trick in each suit except trumps.
East had the right idea but should have concentrated on trying to give partner more information. Instead of returning the deuce of hearts, East should have returned the nine of hearts, making it clear he did not have an honor in the suit. Now West can allow the king to win and, when East regains the lead with the king of clubs, another heart lead gives the defenders two tricks in the suit to go with the ace of diamonds and king of clubs -- down one.
& copy;2006 Tribune Media Services
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