Both vulnerable. South deals.

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xJ 10 6 3

uQ J 8

vA J 3

wQ 6 5

WEST EAST

xA 8 xK 9 7 4

u10 7 4 2 uA 9 5 3

vQ 10 6 2 v9 5

wJ 9 2 w10 7 4

SOUTH

xQ 5 2

uK 6

vK 8 7 4

wA K 8 3

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1NT Pass 3NT Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Two of u

Imagine that you are declarer on this deal. You have umpteen ways to try for your contract. How many of them can you test?

The auction was straightforward enough. Without a ruffing value, North had no reason to probe for a spade fit after you opened one no trump. He had just enough to go directly to game.

West led the deuce of hearts, East rose with the ace and returned the trey to your king, so the suit is surely split 4-4, limiting your opponents’ heart tricks to two to go with their two sure spade tricks. Meanwhile, you see eight winners after the defense collects their four tricks, and a diamond finesse or a 3-3 break in spades or clubs would produce the fulfilling trick.

But you need to hold off on the diamond finesse — if you lose the finesse, you would be conceding the setting trick to the enemy.

Correct is first to pursue a 3-3 split, starting on spades. East can capture the 10 of spades with the king and return a heart to the queen. You continue with a spade to the queen and ace. West takes his heart trick and exits with a club. You win and cash the jack of spades. If the spades are 3-3, you are home. If not, cash your club winners to see if the suit splits evenly. Here, that gives you your ninth trick but, if clubs don’t break, you can still fall back on the diamond finesse.

2008 Tribune Media Services