BRIDGE

East-West vulnerable. West deals.

NORTH

x10 7 3

uK 8 5

vA Q J 4 3

w8 6

WESTEAST

x9xK J 8 4

uQ J 7 6 4 3u10

v9 8 2v6 5

wA J 4wK 10 9 7 3 2

SOUTH

xA Q 6 5 2

uA 9 2

vK 10 7

wQ 5

The bidding:

WESTNORTHEASTSOUTH

2uPassPass2x

Pass3uPass4x

PassPassPass

Opening lead: Nine of v

Cover up the East-West hands and decide: How would you play four spades after the lead of the nine of diamonds?

Partner’s heart cue-bid showed a good spade raise and, with a maximum for your balance, you proceed to game. You are lucky not to have received a heart lead. If spades are 3-2, all you need is the trump finesse. Since you know East has at most one heart, chances of a 4-1 spade break are live. Is there a safety play?

Indeed there is. All you need is for West’s singleton to be either the nine or eight (or the jack, if East covers the first spade lead).

Win the opening lead in dummy and lead the ten of spades, intending to run it if East does not cover. When West drops the nine, you take a spade finesse, cash the ace and concede a spade. The defenders can take two club tricks, but you can run diamonds and score the rest of the tricks.

If East covers, you finesse the queen and the nine from West is a joy to behold. Return to dummy with a diamond and lead the seven of spades. If East plays low, run the seven and you can draw another trump with the ace and concede a trump, and all is well. If East covers, win with the ace and lead the six to force out the king. The best the defenders can do is take their two club tricks since you can draw East’s four of spades with your five and run the diamonds

Alternatively, after the queen of spades wins, continue by playing a low spade to the seven, losing to the eight. When you get back to dummy, another trump lead allows you to pick up East’s K 4. Making four spades.

2009 Tribune Media Services