bridge

October 19, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

bridge

Neither vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

x7 5

u10 4

vA Q 9 6 5 4 2

w8 3

WEST EAST

xK 10 9 6 3 xJ 8 4

uQ 7 6 uA J 8 2

vK 10 8 7 vVoid

w10 wQ J 9 6 5 2

SOUTH

xA Q 2

uK 9 5 3

vJ 3

wA K 7 4

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1NT Pass 3NT Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Ten of x

We will continue looking at winning defense. Consider this deal where the opponents reach three no trump (no other bid by North comes into consideration) and declarer wins your opening lead of a spade with the queen, partner following with the eight.

Declarer now tables the jack of diamonds. In this case it would be wrong to cover an honor with an honor — it is routine for declarer to duck and, when East shows out, declarer can run the suit by next finessing the nine of diamonds after he regains the lead.

It is easy to count the diamonds. West can see 11 diamonds (seven in dummy and four in hand) and for his no-trump declarer has two.

Therefore, duck the first diamond and declarer can score only three tricks in the suit. Dummy is dead as a doornail. Declarer can win only eight tricks in all.

2010 Tribune Media Services