Neither vulnerable. North deals.

Neither vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

xJ 4 2

uK 3

vQ 6 4

wA K J 8 3

WEST EAST

xQ 10 6 xK 8 5

uA 9 8 7 6 5 u4 2

v10 9 8 vJ 5 3 2

w7 wQ 10 9 2

SOUTH

xA 9 7 3

uQ J 10

vA K 7

w6 5 4

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1w Pass 2NT Pass

3NT Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Seven of u

Cover the East-West hands. You reach three no trump on an eminently sensible auction. How would you play the contract after the lead of a fourth-best heart?

With no ruffing value, South did not check on a possible 4-4 spade fit. North, with a balanced hand, had no reason to look for any contract other than three no trump.

Declarer won the opening lead in dummy and cashed the ace of clubs. He crossed to the king of diamonds to return a club. West discarded a heart and declarer played low, East winning with the nine. After some thought, East found the diamond return, choosing the jack to show spade values. That killed South’s communications. Declarer tried to steal a heart trick. West took the ace and returned a diamond, and the contract failed. Try it.

Declarer could have made the contract. At trick three he should have led a low club from dummy! Now there is no way for the defenders to disrupt declarer’s communications and, in the long run, South must win one spade, two hearts and three tricks in each minor. Try it.

2009 Tribune Media Services