Neither vulnerable. North deals.

Neither vulnerable. North deals.
NORTH
A J 5
3 2
7 5
A Q 10 9 6 3
WEST EAST
10 9 8 6 Q 7 4
Q 10 6 J 9 8 7
Q 10 8 4 J 9 2
7 2 K J 5
SOUTH
K 3 2
A K 5 4
A K 6 3
8 4
The bidding:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1 Pass 1 Pass
2 Pass 3 NT Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: 10 of
"Cover an honor with an honor" is perhaps the least accurate of the many bridge maxims. Here is a case in point, from a duplicate tournament more than 60 years ago.
The auction was straightforward. Once North could do no more than rebid clubs, three no trump was the natural spot to play the hand.
At four of the tables the opening lead was the 10 of spades. At three of the tables the contract was defeated two tricks. The 10 was covered by the jack and queen and won with the king -- holding up would have been no better since the defenders can continue spades at every turn. A club finesse lost to the king and the ace of spades was forced out, and there was no dummy entry to run the clubs once they were established
At the other table declarer was Life Master No. 8, Richard L. Frey. He played low from dummy at trick one (if required, a finesse of the jack could be taken later) and captured the 10 with the king to lead a club to the queen and king. East could not return a spade profitably, and shifted to a heart. Declarer won in hand and continued with a club to the eight and jack, setting up four winners in the suit. Declarer scored an overtrick, collecting four clubs and two tricks in each of the other suits.
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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