Both vulnerable. South deals.

February 25, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

NORTH

xA K

uQ 9 7 2

vA Q J

wK 7 4 2

WEST EAST

xQ x8 5 4 3

uJ 10 8 5 4 uK 3

vK 8 6 3 v10 7 5 2

wQ J 5 wA 10 9

SOUTH

xJ 10 9 7 6 2

uA 6

v9 4

w8 6 3

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

Pass Pass 1C Pass

1x Pass 2NT Pass

3x Pass 4x Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Jack of u

We have urged our readers repeatedly to plan their whole campaign before playing to the first trick. South, a former finalist in the world team championship, played too quickly to trick one — and paid a heavy price.

Notice that South’s bid of three spades could not be passed — North’s jump created a game-forcing situation. It simply announced a long suit and offered a choice of games. North wisely selected the suit game.

West led the jack of hearts, covered by the queen and king and taken with the ace. Declarer successfully finessed the jack of diamonds, cashed the ace and king of trumps but then had no fast return to hand to draw the last trump and repeat the diamond finesse for a club discard.

A low heart from the table was taken by West’s eight, and the switch to the queen of clubs quickly netted the defenders three tricks in the suit — down one.

South’s error, like so many, came at the very first trick — the king of hearts should have been allowed to win. Now there was no way West could gain the lead. Declarer wins the heart continuation, finesses the jack of diamonds and cashes the table’s top trumps, fetching the queen. A heart ruff is the entry to hand to draw the outstanding trumps and repeat the diamond finesse, and the defenders are limited to two club tricks to go with the heart banked at trick one.

SCrt 2010 Tribune Media Services