Both vulnerable. South deals.

Both vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
K Q 8 5
Q 9 7
J 6 2
K Q 8
WEST EAST
A 4 J 10 7 2
J 10 6 8 2
A K Q 10 9 3 7 5
6 3 9 7 5 4 2
SOUTH
9 6 3
A K 5 4 3
8 4
A J 10
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1 2 3 Pass
3 Pass 4 Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: King of
Building bricks out of straw might be impossible. But you can, on occasion, build a trick out of straw! Can you tell which card is the key to defeating four hearts?
The auction was typical of the modern five-card major style. West had a perfectly normal two-diamond overcall of the one-heart opening, and North's three-diamond cue-bid showed a limit raise or better in hearts. After South's simple rebid showed a minimum opening bid, North raised to game.
West led the king of diamonds, and it was obvious that East was going to produce no trick on power -- West could account for 27 high-card points in his hand and dummy and, allowing for South's opening bid, West could expect no more than a couple of knaves with partner. But even that was more than necessary. West's trump holding offered a fair chance of producing the setting trick. All it needed was for East to hold the eight of hearts!
On the king of diamonds East dutifully started an echo with the seven and completed it with the five when West continued with the queen of diamonds. To make sure that East ruffed the third round of diamonds, West next led the three, to dummy's jack. Since the play to the first two tricks marked West with the ace of diamonds, East "seen his duty and he dun it!" He ruffed with the eight of hearts. South had to overruff with the king, promoting West's jack. Declarer had no way to avoid losing a trick in each major -- down one.
& copy; 2007 Tribune Media Services
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