Both vulnerable. South deals.

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xA 9 6 2

uK 7 4 3

v8 6 5 2

w8

WEST EAST

xQ 8 3 xJ 10 7 4

u8 6 5 u10 9

vK 7 vA J 10 3

wK J 9 7 3 wQ 5 4

SOUTH

xK 5

uA Q J 2

vQ 9 4

wA 10 6 2

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1w Pass 1v Pass

1u Pass 2u Pass

4u Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Five of u

Count your tricks. Sometimes you need no more than that to tell you how to play the hand. Here’s a typical example.

The auction is routine. Since North could have passed one heart with a dead minimum, South decided that the combined holding should offer play for game, and proceeded there directly.

West led a trump and declarer could see that there was only one way to land the game. Since there were only three fast tricks available outside of trumps and the opening lead had reduced him to three trumps in each hand, South had to score all his trumps singly. That required careful play. First, declarer had to win the opening lead in hand to preserve a high trump in dummy with which to ruff the fourth club. Secondly, if declarer starts with the king-ace of spades and a spade ruff, he will have no entry to hand to ruff the last club. Try it.

Win the first trick in hand with a high trump, cash the ace of clubs and ruff a club. Cash the ace and king of spades and ruff another club. Return to hand with a spade trumped low, trump another club with the king and your remaining trump is the fulfilling trick.

2008 Tribune Media Services