North-South vulnerable. South deals.

North-South vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
10
A Q 9 3
Q 7 6 4
A Q 7 5
WEST EAST
K J 7 6 9 8 5 4 3
10 8 7 2 J 6 5
9 2 A J 10
J 3 2 K 10
SOUTH
A Q 2
K 4
K 8 5 3
9 8 6 4
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1 Pass 1D Pass
1NT Pass 3NT Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: Six of
Looking at all four hands, would you rather play or defend three no trump after a low spade lead?
Once South decided to open the bidding, the auction was more or less automatic. One no trump is South's only rebid and North surely doesn't want to investigate the possibility of a minor-suit game.
Suppose you elect to play. The opening lead does declarer no harm -- dummy's ten wins. You lead a diamond to the king, which holds, and run the nine of clubs, losing to East's ten. A spade to the queen loses to the king and West clears the suit by returning the king.
Play the eight of clubs and, when West follows low, use a variation of the Principle of Restricted Choice by rising with the ace, fetching the king, and you have nine tricks in the bag.
At the table, however, you should probably elect to defend. You can likely defeat the contract if, on the second club lead, you insert the jack! It is dollars to doughnuts that declarer will finesse the queen, losing to the king. You take two more spade tricks and the ace of diamonds for a two-trick set.
& copy; 2007, Tribune Media Services
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