East-West not vulnerable. South deals.

East-West not vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

x9 5 3

uJ 8 7 3

vJ 9 5 4

wJ 2

WEST EAST

x8 7 6 xK Q J 2

u5 2 u9 6

vK Q 8 7 3 v10 6

wQ 7 6 wA K 10 9 3

SOUTH

xA 10 4

uA K Q 10 4

vA 2

w8 5 4

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1u Pass 3u Dbl

4u Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: King of v

Study the diagram and bidding of this deal and decide: Would you rather play or defend four hearts after the lead of the king of diamonds?

Nobody will argue that North’s heart jump was weak — very weak. Obviously, South expected a bit more and proceeded to game.

Suppose you elect to defend. Declarer wins the opening lead with the ace, draws trumps in two rounds and plays a diamond. You win with the queen and shift to a club. Partner takes two club winners, to complete the book, but that is all for the defense. Declarer wins the spade shift with the ace, crosses to dummy with a trump (or a club ruff) and discards his two spade losers on dummy’s winning diamonds to land his contract.

However, don’t elect to declare. You can defeat the contract if you are a more giving soul. When declarer leads a low diamond toward dummy, play low from your hand. Now South does not lose a diamond trick but, in the fullness of time, will have to concede two tricks in each black suit. Down one.

2008 Tribune Media Services