Both vulnerable. East deals.

Both vulnerable. East deals.
NORTH
A 10 7 4 2
A K 7
J 7 6
J 10
WEST EAST
Q 9 6 5 K J
10 8 5 3 Q J 9
9 5 10 8 4 3 2
9 6 5 A K 8
SOUTH
8 3
6 4 2
A K Q
Q 7 4 3 2
The bidding:
EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH
1 Pass Pass Dbl
Pass 2NT Pass 3NT
Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Nine of
Study the diagram above and decide: Would you rather play or defend three no trump after the lead of the nine of diamonds?
Since a reopening bid in the fourth seat can be made on as few as 7 points, North is forced to start off by making a takeout double. Because South is a passed hand, the jump to two no trump cannot be more than 11-12 points, but North has enough to proceed to game.
Suppose you elect to play. You win the opening lead in hand and lead a club to the ten and king. East returns a diamond. You win and play a club to the jack. East holds up and you can get back to hand to set up two long clubs but you have no entry with which to return to hand to cash them. The contract must fail.
However, you were right to choose to play -- you have a simple precautionary measure to guarantee the contract if clubs break evenly. Instead of leading the second club from hand, cross to dummy with the ace of hearts and lead the jack of clubs. As the cards lie, the defenders are helpless. If East rises with the ace, the suit is set up. If he follows low, you overtake with the queen and play another club, forcing out the ace while you still have a diamond entry back to hand to cash the clubs and collect nine tricks -- three tricks in each minor and three in the majors.
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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