North-South vulnerable. North deals.

North-South vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

x9 8 7 3

uJ 2

vA K 6

wQ 7 5 3

WEST EAST

xK J 4 2 x6 5

uA 4 u9 7 3

vQ 8 4 v10 9 7 2

wJ 9 8 6 wK 10 4 2

SOUTH

xA Q 10

uK Q 10 8 6 5

vJ 5 3

wA

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

Pass Pass 1u Pass

1x Pass 3u Pass

4u Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Six of w

Are you a finesser or a technician? This deal might help you answer that question.

Three no trump is an easier contract than four hearts, but it is not all that easy to get there. Even if North responds one no trump rather than one spade, four hearts seems like the normal spot.

After a club lead, declarer won in hand, led a trump to the jack and returned a trump to the queen and ace. West persevered with a club, ruffed by declarer, who drew the outstanding trump, crossed to the ace of diamonds and led a spade to the ten and jack. After ruffing West’s club exit, declarer returned to the table with the king of diamonds and took a second spade finesse. West won and cashed the queen of diamonds — down one.

Declarer overlooked the power of the nine of spades! After drawing trumps, declarer should simply play the ace and queen of spades, losing to the king. No matter what West returns, declarer wins and continues with a spade to the jack. There will be at least one high diamond left in dummy as an entry for declarer to cash the high nine of spades for a diamond discard and the 10th trick. Too easy!

2008 Tribune Media Services