North-South vulnerable. West deals.

North-South vulnerable. West deals.

NORTH

xA 9

uK Q 4

v5 4 2

wJ 9 8 7 6

WEST EAST

xQ J 10 8 6 5 x7 4 3

u9 8 6 u10 7 5

vJ 9 7 vK 10 8

wA wK 4 3 2

SOUTH

xK 2

uA J 3 2

vA Q 6 3

wQ 10 5

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

2x Pass Pass 2NT

Pass 3NT Pass Pass

Pass

Opening lead: Queen of x

Here’s another deal from Eddie Kantar’s excellent series “Thinking Bridge,” designed for players anxious to improve their game.

“South’s reopening bid of two no trump shows 14-17 high-card points. A three-club response by North would be Stayman.

“As South, you start with seven top tricks and need two more. You could easily set up three extra tricks in clubs — if you had the time. Unfortunately, you have only one spade stopper left and would have to let the opponents in twice to set up clubs. When they get in with the first club, they knock out your last spade stop, and when they get in with the second club a torrent of spades will rain down upon you. Down two. You will have to look elsewhere for tricks.

“How about diamonds? Given this meager diamond combination, you need to find East with exactly K x x [an 18 percent chance] to build up two extra diamond tricks. An 18 percent chance is better than a 0 percent chance. Enter dummy with a heart, finesse the queen of diamonds and play the ace of diamonds and a diamond [or duck a diamond and then play the ace]. Whatever you do works [am I good to you or what?] as long as you attack diamonds, not clubs. It’s all a matter of time. When a contract looks desperate, dream up a winning lie of the opponents’ cards and play for it. When a contract looks too good to be true, start looking around for safety plays. This contract falls into the desperate category.”

SCrt 2010 Tribune Media Services