BRIDGE

Both vulnerable. West deals.

NORTH

xA Q 9 7 5

uK Q 7 5

vQ 7

wQ 7

WEST EAST

x6 x10 2

u10 6 2 uA J 9

vK 10 6 3 v9 5 4

wA K J 10 6 w8 5 4 3 2

SOUTH

xK J 8 4 3

u8 4 3

vA J 8 2

w9

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

1w Dbl 2w 3x

Pass 4x Pass Pass

Pass

Opening lead: King of w

Cover the East-West hands and decide: How would you play four spades after the defenders cash the king of clubs and continue with the ace?

The auction is routine. North has just enough for a takeout double and to raise partner’s invitational jump in spades to game. However, the auction and play do contain clues to how you should proceed. What are they?

You are missing only two key high cards — the king of diamonds and ace of hearts — and you know that West must hold one of them for his opening bid and East must hold the other for his raise. Can you put that knowledge to use?

Yes. Ruff the second club, draw trumps ending in hand and lead a diamond. If West has the king, he cannot afford to rise with it — you will later win the queen of diamonds and discard two heart losers from the table on your high diamonds. So West must allow the queen of diamonds to win and one of your losers has vanished. What if East captured the queen with the king? Now West is marked with the ace of hearts, so lead hearts twice from your hand up to dummy’s king-queen and you lose only one trick in each suit except spades.

2010 Tribune Media Services