Bridge Column for September 25, 1994 
East-West vulnerable.  South deals.
                              NORTH
                              S: Q 9              
                              H: 6           
                              D: A 6 4 3     
                              C: K Q J 10 6 2
            WEST                             EAST
            S: A 5 3                         S: K            
            H: 7 5                           H: K 10 8 4 3 2
            D: K J 10 9 8                    D: 7 2               
            C: A 9 7                         C: 8 5 4 3     
                              SOUTH                         
                              S: J 10 8 7 6 4 2
                              H: A Q J 9    
                              D: Q 5        
                              C: V o i d  
                  SOUTH    WEST    NORTH    EAST                  
                   3S      Pass     4S      Pass
                   Pass    Pass
     This hand was dealt at a rubber bridge game, and while I
wouldn't suggest three spades as the proper opening bid for the
South hand, the player in that seat decided that the time was
right for a "different" approach.  Before reading on, decide
whether you would like to declare or defend.
     West made the double dummy lead of a small spade.  This was
the only lead that did not give up the contract immediately. 
East won the king and returned the five of clubs.  South pitched
the five of diamonds and West won the ace.  The ace of spades
smothered dummy's queen, and the king of diamonds was led to
force the ace from dummy.  Declarer played the king and queen of
clubs for heart pitches.  Both defenders followed.  He now had
the unenviable task of deciding whether he should take the heart
finesse, a fifty per cent play, or playing the jack of clubs for
another heart pitch.  This play would work if West held the
fourth club.  Since it was already known that clubs split 4-3, it
was a fifty per cent chance that either defender had the last
outstanding club.
     My question here is, was it necessary to come down to this
delicate guess?  What if declarer ruffs the club return at trick
two?  He can then play the ace of hearts and ruff a heart with
the queen of spades.  Now the king of clubs is played and if East
plays low, declarer discards a heart.  West is in with the ace of
clubs and has no safe exit.  
     It is also interesting to note that the defense will always
prevail after a small spade lead if East shifts to a diamond at
trick two.  No matter what he tries, declarer must always lose
two spade tricks along with a combination of two tricks in the
other three suits.  
     At the table, declarer took the heart finesse and made his
contract.