Both vulnerable. South deals.

Both vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
A Q 3
J 9 8 6 4 2
9 7 6
4
WEST EAST
10 6 5 4 K J 7 2
A 7 5
K J 5 4 10 8
K Q 6 10 9 8 5 3 2
SOUTH
9 8
K Q 10 3
A Q 3 2
A J 7
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1NT Pass 2 Pass
3 Pass 4 Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: King of
Study the bidding and play of this deal, then decide: Is the result unfortunate, or did someone err? If so, who and why?
North's two-diamond response to South's one-no-trump opening is a transfer to hearts, and South's jump to three hearts showed a maximum for play in hearts with excellent trump support. North now had an easy raise to game.
West led the king of clubs, losing to South's ace. Since there had been a singleton club on the table, East played the ten to ask for a shift to spades, the higher of the remaining plain suits.
At trick two declarer led the queen of hearts from hand and West, fearful of crashing a singleton king in the East hand, played low. Declarer next took the spade finesse, losing to the king. East returned the 10 of diamonds, declarer shot up with the ace, led a spade to the ace and ruffed a spade in hand. He then exited with a trump to snare West in an endplay.
The defender could either concede a ruff-sluff, or lead a minor-suit card. Whichever minor he chose would run to South's honor in that suit and the second diamond loser would vanish. South lost one trick in each suit except clubs.
What's your verdict?
Blame West. There was no way South would have jumped in hearts if he was missing the king in the suit as well -- heart support headed by the queen would be normal. West should have grabbed the ace of hearts and shifted to a spade, and the game would be defeated one trick. Try it.
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
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