North-South vulnerable. South deals.

North-South vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

x-10 5 4

u-A 8 5 3

v-K 8 6

w-A 10 4

WEST EAST

x-Q 8 7 2 x-J 9 3

u-7 2 u-Q J 10 6

v-Q 10 2 v-J 9 4

w-J 8 6 5 w-Q 7 2

SOUTH

x-A K 6

u-K 9 4

v-A 7 5 3

w-K 9 3

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1NT Pass 3NT Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Two of x

When there is more than one way to develop the tricks you need to make your contract, try to combine your lines. Consider this deal.

The bidding was simple enough. After South’s one-no-trump opening bid, North, with a perfectly flat hand, had no reason to try to locate a 4-4 heart fit. His three no trump ended the auction.

West led his fourth-best spade and, when dummy appeared, declarer could count eight fast tricks. Either a long heart or a long diamond might be established for the fulfilling trick. However, if declarer tried to cash out one of the suits and chose the wrong one, he could be establishing the setting trick for the defense. Careful play by declarer allowed him to test both suits.

West’s low spade opening lead was covered by the ten and jack and ducked by declarer. The spade return was taken with the ace. Declarer led a heart and ducked it, losing to the ten. Back came another spade. In with the king of spades, declarer took care not to go after hearts — that might establish a second heart trick for the defense. Instead, he ducked a diamond.

West won and cashed the 13th spade before shifting back to hearts. Declarer won with the king and cashed the ace and, when the suit didn’t break, reverted to diamonds. When that suit broke evenly, the 13th diamond became declarer’s ninth trick.

2009 Tribune Media Services