North-South vulnerable. South deals.

North-South vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
K Q 9 6
K 8 4 3
J 5
K 7 4
WEST EAST
8 7 J
7 5 J 9 2
K Q 6 4 3 9 8 7 2
A Q 10 5 J 9 6 3 2
SOUTH
A 10 5 4 3 2
A Q 10 6
A 10
8
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1 Pass 2NT Pass
3 Pass 4 Pass
4NT Pass 5 Pass
6 Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: King of
In "Morehead on Bidding," published in 1964, the late Albert Morehead discussed when it is right to choose to play in a 4-4 fit in preference to a 5-4 or even 6-4 fit. In short, if you have no losers in the side suits, play in the longer trump suit; but if you have a side-suit loser, which you must discard, choose the 4-4 fit so that you can discard on the longer suit. Consider this deal.
North's two no trump was a forcing spade raise, and the two heart bids were, by agreement, natural. After using key-card Blackwood to check on controls, South found one was missing. Since there was a potential diamond loser as well, South elected to play in the 4-4 heart fit rather than in spades.
South's judgment was impeccable. Playing at six spades, declarer could not have avoided losing a club and a diamond. At six hearts, however, there was no way to beat the hand as long as trumps were 3-2. Declarer won the opening lead with the ace, drew trumps in three rounds and ran spades, discarding a club and a diamond from dummy. A diamond ruff on the table was the 12th trick.
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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