North-South vulnerable. North deals.

North-South vulnerable. North deals.
NORTH
A K J 10 9 5 2
4
Q 8
7 5 3
WEST EAST
Q 8 6 4 7 3
K Q 9 7 3 J 5 2
J 10 2 K 9 6 5 4
8 K 10 4
SOUTH
Void
A 10 8 6
A 7 3
A Q J 9 6 5
The bidding:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1 Pass 2 2
2 3 6 Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: King of
Andrew Robson in "The Times" of London reported this deal from a Congress in England. Would you rather play or defend six clubs after the lead of the king of hearts?
South's jump to six clubs is not as strange as it might appear. The bidding marked North with at most one heart, so South could reasonably expect some club support from North. Also, he was entitled to expect a slightly stronger hand for a vulnerable opening bid.
Suppose you elected to defend. Declarer won the opening heart lead with the ace and ruffed a heart. The jack of clubs was successfully finessed and another heart was ruffed. Declarer came to hand with a spade ruff and led the ace of clubs and exited with a club to the king, and East was hopelessly trapped in an endplay. A spade return into dummy's holding was hopeless, so East led away from the king of diamonds. That was run to the table's queen, the ace and king of spades were cashed for two red-suit discards and declarer claimed the rest.
However, you were correct to elect to defend, but you must play better. On the first trump lead you must follow with the ten, then jettison the king under the ace. Now declarer loses no trump trick but cannot endplay you, and must surrender several red-suit tricks.
& copy;2007 Tribune Media Services
Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.