North-South vulnerable. South deals.

North-South vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

x7 4

u9 8 5

vA K J 2

wK Q 7 4

WEST EAST

xJ 9 5 xK 8 2

uA J 4 3 u10 7 2

v9 8 6 3 vQ 10 5

wA 9 wJ 8 6 3

SOUTH

xA Q 10 6 3

uK Q 6

v7 4

w10 5 2

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1x Pass 2w Pass

2NT Pass 3v Pass

3NT Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Three of u

Study this deal from the Spingold Knockout Team Championships at the recent ACBL Summer North American Championships and decide: Would you rather play or defend three no trump after the lead of a low heart?

There is nothing remarkable about the auction although North might have saved a round of bidding by raising to three no trump at his second turn. And after a heart lead declarer can make his contract by taking two spade finesses, scoring four spade tricks, a heart, two diamonds and two clubs. Did you elect to declare?

Where New Yorkers Mehil Ozdil and Erez Hendelman held the East-West cards, Ozdil led a low heart, taken in hand with the queen. Declarer crossed to dummy with a club to the king and led a spade, but a strange thing happened — Hendelman inserted the king! Suddenly an almost sure-fire game could no longer be made.

Suppose declarer won with the ace. Now there would no longer be an entry back to hand to cash the spades once they were set up. Allowing the king of spades to win was only slightly better. East would revert to hearts and the defenders would collect three heart tricks and one in each black suit.

Well done if you elected to defend!

2008 Tribune Media Services