Bridge Column for December 18, 1994 
Both sides vulnerable.  North deals.
                              NORTH
                              S: 9 8 7            
                              H: 10 6 5 4     
                              D: 10 9        
                              C: A 10 8 3  
            WEST                             EAST
            S: K J 10 3                      S: A Q 6 2      
            H: 2                             H: 9 7 3      
            D: Q 8 3 2                       D: A 7 6 5           
            C: K 6 5 4                       C: Q 2         
                              SOUTH                         
                              S: 5 4 
                              H: A K Q J 8   
                              D: K J 4  
                              C: J 9 7    
                  NORTH    EAST    SOUTH    WEST                  
                   Pass     1D      1H       1S 
                   3H      Pass     Pass    Pass
     North's pre-emptive raise to three hearts worked it's magic
and East-West were shut out of their spade partial.  East led the
two of hearts.  South won and drew two more rounds of trumps. 
West discarded the three of diamonds and the three of spades. 
The diamond discard was an "odd-even" signal which was
encouraging for diamonds.
     The jack of clubs was led.  West and North played low and
East won the queen.  Without apparent thought or hesitation, East
continued with the five of diamonds.  
     This was an excellent play that put maximum pressure on
declarer.  Look at the difference in the result based on the card
played to this trick by South.  If he plays low, the queen will
win and the defense will take two diamonds, two spades, and the
club that they already have for down one.  Playing the king,
however, puts declarer in control.  He can finesse against the
king of clubs and wind up getting a spade discard to hold his
losses to one spade, one diamond, and one club, making an
overtrick.
     Which card did declarer play?  Well, the declarer was Bobby
Levin of Orlando, FL, a bridge professional and Grand Life Master
with many major championships to his credit. Incredibly, he
worked out the position and played the king of diamonds.  Which
card would you have played?   
entry.