BRIDGE

Neither vulnerable. East deals.

NORTH

x7 4

uK Q 5

v8 6 3

wQ 10 9 5 2

WEST EAST

xK 2 xA 10 6

uJ 10 7 uA 9 8 4 2

vQ 5 v9 7 2

wK 8 7 6 4 3 wA J

SOUTH

xQ J 9 8 5 3

u6 3

vA K J 10 4

wVoid

The bidding:

EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH

1u 1x 2u Pass

Pass 3v Pass 3x

Pass 4x Pass Pass

Dbl Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Jack of u

Suppose you are playing in an expert game. Cover the East-West cards and decide what you would do as play progresses.

Once the opponents got no further than two hearts, South knew North held some values. Hence the push to four spades was not as much of a stretch as it might seem.

West leads the jack of hearts, covered by the queen and taken with the ace. East shifts to the ace of clubs, which you ruff. What now?

If spades are 4-1, the only hope is that West holds the singleton ten. Therefore, play the queen of spades from hand. West covers with the king, which holds the trick, but the ten does not appear. West reverts to a heart. You win in dummy and lead a trump. East rises with the ace and you are pleasantly surprised as West follows with the deuce. East shifts to a low diamond. Do you rise with the ace or take the finesse?

While the odds favor the finesse, take it only if you think East has suddenly lost his mind. East knows there are safe exits in any one of the other three suits, which would lock you in hand. Why, then, is East being kind enough to offer you the opportunity to take a finesse? Because East knows it will fail!

Show your disdain for this tactic by rising with the ace and, after drawing the remaining trump, cashing the king of diamonds. You are not at all surprised when the queen drops and 10 tricks roll in.

2009 Tribune Media Services