North-South vulnerable. West deals.

North-South vulnerable. West deals.

NORTH

x9

uK 8

vA J 10 7 6 2

wA K 9 8

WEST EAST

xJ 3 2 xA 10 8 7 4

uJ 10 4 uQ 5 2

vQ 9 8 5 vK 3

w10 6 2 wQ J 3

SOUTH

xK Q 6 5

uA 9 7 6 3

v4

w7 5 4

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

Pass 1v 1x Dbl

Pass 2w Pass 2u

Pass 3v Pass 3NT

Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Two of x

When you can see all the entries, you can plan the defense to keep dummy off lead. It is not all that simple when you want to shut out the closed hand. Here, both techniques were applied.

The auction was straightforward. South’s double of the one-spade overcall was negative for takeout, and promised a heart suit. With a combined high-card count of 24 and a six-card diamond suit in one hand and a five-card heart suit in the other, three no trump was a reasonable contract.

West led a low spade (from either three to an honor or three or four low cards). In case partner had led from the queen, East rose with the ace and returned the ten, taken with the king as West unblocked the jack. Declarer crossed to the king of hearts and ducked a heart to West. Since East’s spade play had denied the queen, West shifted to a low diamond, covered with the ten and taken by the king.

East shifted to the queen of clubs, taken with the king as West signaled encouragement with the six. Declarer, intending to throw East in with the jack of clubs after cashing the minor-suit aces, continued with the ace from dummy but East, showing implicit faith in partner, jettisoned the knave. When West won the ten of clubs, he was able to exit with a diamond and, with declarer then locked in dummy, there was no way the defenders could be prevented from collecting the setting trick.

2009 Tribune Media Services