Both vulnerable. South deals.

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xA 8 6 5 4

uA Q 3

vK 7

w6 5 2

WEST EAST

x9 3 xK Q 10 2

u6 5 u9 2

v10 8 4 3 2 vA Q 9 5

wQ 9 8 3 wJ 10 7

SOUTH

xJ 7

uK J 10 8 7 4

vJ 6

wA K 4

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1u Pass 1x Pass

2u Pass 4u Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Three of v

For the next week or so, we are going to test your defensive skills. Cover the South and West hands and see how you, East, would fare against a four-heart contract after partner leads the three of diamonds.

South’s two-heart rebid guarantees a six-card suit. North’s points are all working and his excellent trump support gives something to spare for his raise to game.

West leads a low diamond, your queen wins and you cash the ace. What now?

At the table, West shifted to the jack of clubs. Declarer won and ducked a spade. East continued with the ten of clubs to South’s king. Declarer cashed the king of hearts, led a spade to the ace and ruffed a spade, He returned to dummy with a trump and ruffed another spade, setting up the fifth spade for a club discard to land the contract. Can you do better?

There is no hurry to shift to a club at trick three. If declarer has a club loser, it can only go away on a spade. There are no entries to the spades except in trumps and you should attack them right away. Shift to a heart, and play another trump when you win a spade. Now declarer is an entry short to the table to set up and cash the 13th spade. Down one.

2008 Tribune Media Services