Both vulnerable. South deals.

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xA J 8 4

u7 5 3 2

vA J

w7 6 4

WEST EAST

x9 6 x7 5

uA K Q 10 uJ 9 4

v10 8 4 3 vQ 7 6 5

wK J 9 w10 5 3 2

SOUTH

xK Q 10 3 2

u8 6

vK 9 2

wA Q 8

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1x Dbl Rdbl Pass

Pass 2u 2x Pass

4x Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: King of u

Study the diagram above and decide: Would you rather play or defend four spades after the lead of the king of hearts?

Suppose you elect to defend. You cash two heart tricks and continue with a third heart, forcing declarer to ruff while you sit back and wait for two minor-suit tricks. But not so fast. Declarer draws trumps in two rounds, cashes the ace and king of diamonds and ruffs a diamond and leads a club, inserting the eight. Whether you return a red suit or a club, your second minor-suit trick has vanished into thin air. Try it if you don’t believe us.

However, that doesn’t mean you should have elected to declare. Suppose that, when you lead the club from dummy, East inserts the ten. Whether you cover or not, West must collect two club tricks for down one.

Despite that, you should have elected to declare! Suppose that after drawing trumps and ruffing your diamond loser in dummy, you lead the table’s last heart and discard the eight of clubs from hand. West wins, but is endplayed. Whether he leads a club into your tenace or a red card, allowing you to trump on the table while discarding the queen of clubs from hand, the defense scores no more tricks and you sail home.

2008 Tribune Media Services