East-West vulnerable. West deals.

November 12, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

NORTH

x8 3

uQ 9 7 5 4

v7 6 2

wA J 2

WEST EAST

xA 9 4 x5

u3 2 uK 10 8

vJ 10 vA K 9 8 5 4 3

wQ 10 8 7 5 4 wK 6

SOUTH

xK Q J 10 7 6 2

uA J 6

w9 3

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

Pass Pass 1v 4x

Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Jack of v

Study the bidding and play to the early tricks and decide: How would you defend against four spades?

With East-West playing a forcing club system where all hands of 16 points and up are opened with one club, South could expect some working cards in partner’s hand, hence his four-spade overcall is a reasonable shot.

West led the jack of diamonds, East won with the king and continued with the ace, declarer ruffing. The king of spades was taken with the ace. As West, how would you defend now?

Suppose West defends passively by returning a trump. Declarer wins, draws the remaining trumps and continues with the ace and jack of hearts, setting up the hearts for a club discard while the ace of clubs is still on the table. A heart return produces a similar ending.

Therefore, West must shift to a club, but a low club is not good enough. Declarer simply ducks in dummy; East wins the king but is trapped in an endplay. While East can return a diamond, declarer ruffs high, draws trumps and takes the club finesse for a heart discard. West must, therefore, return a club honor. The queen works, but a prettier defense is to return the ten of clubs, allowing East to overtake if declarer covers with the jack and leaving South’s nine of clubs surrounded by the queen-eight. Try it.

2008 Tribune Media Services