BRIDGE

November 4, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

BRIDGE

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xJ 9 8

vQ J 9 6 4

wJ 5 3 2

WEST EAST

x6 4 3 xK Q 10

uK 10 7 6 3 u9 8 4 2

v5 2 vA 7

wK 8 4 w10 9 7 6

SOUTH

xA 7 5 2

uA Q 5

vK 10 8 3

wA Q

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1v Pass 3v Pass

3NT Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Six of u

We continue with another deal from Eddie Kantar’s prize- winning series ”Thinking Bridge,” published in the Daily Bulletins at the recent Summer National Championships held in Toronto

”North-South are playing inverted minors where a raise to two diamonds is strong, and a jump to three diamonds is weak.

”As East, play the eight of hearts at trick one, second high from four low cards to give count when dummy’s honor cannot be topped. As South, it looks normal to drive out the ace of diamonds, but it’s not! If East has the ace of diamonds (worst-case scenario) and returns a heart you have only eight tricks: two hearts, four diamonds and two aces and their hearts are now ready to run. You will need the club finesse. And if that loses ... disaster!

”A better idea is to take the club finesse immediately. If it loses, West cannot safely return a heart and will surely exit with a spade. You can top East’s ten (notice you still have a spade stopper -- that seven of spades is a big card) and drive out the ace of diamonds in peace. The most they can take is two spades, a club and a diamond and you have nine tricks before their hearts get going. You kept the danger hand (East) from getting in prematurely by finessing into the non-danger hand (West).”

For more information on ”Thinking Bridge” and other Eddie Kantar’s writings go to www.kantarbridge.com.