Both vulnerable. North deals.

Both vulnerable. North deals.
NORTH
10 5 4
A Q 10 5 4 3
A 3
Q 4
WEST EAST
Q 9 7 6 2 J 8
8 2 J 9 7 6
9 J 8 7 6
10 9 8 7 5 K 6 2
SOUTH
A K 3
K
K Q 10 5 4 2
A J 3
The bidding:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1 Pass 2 Pass
2 Pass 4NT Pass
5 Pass 5NT Pass
6 Pass 6NT Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: Ten of
Suppose you reach six no trump with the North-South cards and receive the lead of the ten of clubs. How would you declare the hand at duplicate? Would you play the same way if you were playing for hard cash?
South was delighted to hear partner open the bidding. After North's heart rebid, four no trump was key-card Blackwood with hearts as the agreed suit. North showed two key-cards and the queen of trumps and, when South discovered the king of clubs was missing, he settled in six no trump.
West led the ten of clubs, covered by the queen and king and taken with the ace. Declarer cashed the king of hearts, crossed to the ace of diamonds and cashed the ace and queen of hearts. No luck. Next, declarer led a diamond to the king and, when West showed out, there was no way to 12 tricks. Declarer had to surrender a trick to the jack of diamonds and East cashed the jack of hearts for down one.
It was an excellent slam and an overtrick would have been made had either red knave fallen, and 12 tricks were there if each defender had length in one red suit. Is that the right way to play the hand at rubber bridge?
The overtrick is of no importance now. After cashing the king of hearts at trick two, declarer should lead a low diamond and duck it! As long as diamonds are no worse than 4-1, declarer coasts home with two spade tricks, three hearts, five diamonds and two clubs.
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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