Bridge Column for November 27, 1994 
North-South vulnerable.  South deals.
                              NORTH
                              S: Q 7              
                              H: 3 2       
                              D: 4 3 2       
                              C: A Q J 10 9 3
            WEST                             EAST
            S: 10 8 5                        S: J 6 4        
            H: Q 8                           H: A 10 9 7 6 4 
            D: K Q J 10 6 5                  D: 8                 
            C: 7 2                           C: K 8 5       
                              SOUTH                         
                              S: A K 9 3 2
                              H: K J 5       
                              D: A 9 7    
                              C: 6 4      
                  SOUTH    WEST    NORTH    EAST                  
                   1S       2D      3C       3H 
                   Pass    Pass     3S      Pass
                   4S      Pass     Pass    Pass
     Lil Siegel of Beachwood sat East when this hand was played
at a local duplicate bridge game.  There are a number of
interesting points here, including the harm done to the defense
by East's three heart bid, which Siegel was the first to
acknowledge.
     An opening lead of the king of diamonds would make the
contract virtually impossible.  When East enters the auction at
the three level, West has to decide which red suit to start with.
A heart ruff looks like a possibility so West leads the queen of
hearts.  East can do no better than to win the ace of hearts and
return the eight of diamonds.
     South wins the ace and draws trumps in three rounds, ending
in hand.  The four of clubs is led and West plays the seven. 
From East's point of view, it is unlikely that West would play
the seven from a holding of "seven, six, three", so he must have
a singleton or doubleton.  If South has three clubs there is
nothing that can be done to defeat the contract, but if he has
only two, East must duck smoothly when the queen is called from
dummy.  Siegel played the five without hesitation.
     At this point, South could simply cash the ace of clubs and
concede two diamond tricks (if the king of clubs did not fall
under the ace), claiming his contract.  But this was duplicate
bridge and there appeared to be an opportunity for an overtrick. 
     This is faulty logic on the part of declarer.  Against an
opening lead of the king of diamonds, South will not be able to
win ten tricks without the club finesse working twice, so having
received a very favorable lead, there is no reason to risk the
contract for an overtrick.
     Declarer here gave no thought to the implications of the
opening lead and returned to hand with a heart to take the second
club finesse.  West follows with the three and the jack goes to
East's king.  A heart return now locks declarer in hand and two
diamonds must be lost for a one trick set.  The combination of
greed and a quick thinking defender once again defeats a contract
that was going to make.