Both vulnerable. South deals.

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xK Q 10 3

u9 8 7 6 4

vVoid

w10 9 6 2

WEST EAST

x9 6 4 xJ 8 7

uA Q 2 uJ 10 5 3

v9 8 5 2 vA K J 4

wA 8 5 wJ 3

SOUTH

xA 5 2

uK

vQ 10 7 6 3

wK Q 7 4

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1v Pass 1u Pass

1NT Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Four of x

This deal is a lesson in counting on defense. As West, cover declarer’s and partner’s hands and decide how you would defend against one no trump by South.

After a routine auction ends with South declaring one no trump, you select a spade for your opening lead, covered by the ten and jack and won with the ace. Declarer crosses to dummy with a spade and leads the ten of clubs, covered by the jack and king. You win the ace. How do you continue?

The black suits are easy to count — declarer has three spades and four clubs. Is South more likely to be 2-4 or 1-5 in the red suits?

These days, with 4-4 in the minors many players open one club. Therefore, South is more likely to have one heart and five diamonds on this auction.

If that is so, the defense is easy. Switch to the ace of hearts, and great is the fall thereon. The defenders take four heart tricks, two diamonds and a club for down one and an excellent score.

SCrt 2010 Tribune Media Services