bridge

May 11, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

bridge

Neither vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

xA 10 3 2

uVoid

vK Q 8 5

wJ 10 7 3 2

WEST EAST

x9 xQ 8 6 5 4

uQ 9 6 5 3 uA 7 2

vA 7 3 v9 4 2

wA Q 9 4 w8 6

SOUTH

xK J 7

uK J 10 8 4

vJ 10 6

wK 5

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1w Pass 1u Pass

1x Pass 3NT Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Five of u

Study the bidding and diagram of this deal: After a heart lead, would you rather play or defend three no trump? If you elect to play, what’s your line? If you would rather defend, how would you proceed?

By our lights, North and perhaps South are a king short for their bidding, and we can find no way, against even half competent defense, to come to nine tricks. Defending against the contract is another matter.

Suppose East rises with the ace of hearts and returns a heart. Declarer plays the ten and West wins with the queen. Everything hinges on West’s next move.

Looking at club length in dummy, it is an easy matter for West to switch to a low club. Regardless of where declarer wins the club, he has only seven running tricks with the help of a successful spade finesse. To come to nine, sooner or later declarer must start diamonds. West rises with the ace and cashes the ace and queen of clubs for a one-trick set.

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