East-West vulnerable. North deals.

East-West vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

xQ 9

u9 4 3

vA 10 6 2

wA 8 6 4

WEST EAST

xK 10 7 6 xA J 8 4 3 2

u10 8 uJ 6 5

vQ 9 8 4 v3

wK 10 9 wQ 7 5

SOUTH

x5

uA K Q 7 2

vK J 7 5

wJ 3 2

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

Pass 2x 3u 3x

4u Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Six of x

Study this deal from the recent Bermuda Bowl tournament for the championship of the world, and decide: Would you rather play or defend four hearts after the lead of the six of spades?

The bidding is fairly routine. After a weak two-bid to his right, South must choose between a takeout double and a three-heart overcall, and the quality of the suit leads us to choose the major-suit overcall.

Suppose you elect to declare. East wins the first trick with the ace of spades and returns a spade. You ruff, draw trumps, cash the king of diamonds and lead the jack covered by the queen and taken with the ace, but East discards a spade. Now you are facing three minor-suit losers. However, one can go on the 13th club, so you must set it up at once. You shift to a club but West wins and returns the nine of diamonds, setting up a fourth trick for the defense, when he wins the next club.

Still, you were right to declare. Duck a club immediately, keeping trumps in dummy to take care of another spade play. Win any return and then proceed as above. You will have no problem holding your losers to three.

2009 Tribune Media Services