What's the right play?
Bridge Column for February 6, 2000, By HARVEY BERNSTEIN
Both sides vulnerable.  South deals.
                              NORTH
                              S: K J          
                              H: A J 8 2     
                              D: A K J 6 5 2 
                              C: 5          
            WEST                             EAST
            S: Q 10 9                        S: 8 7 
            H: Q 6 4                         H: K 9 5 3    
            D: 9 8 5 3                       D: 10 7              
            C: K 9 3                         C: Q 10 6 4 2
                              SOUTH                         
                              S: A 6 5 4 3 2 
                              H: 10 7
                              D: Q 
                              C: A J 8 7  
          The Bidding://
                  SOUTH    WEST    NORTH    EAST                  
                    1S     Pass     2D      Pass
                    2S     Pass     4NT     Pass
                    5H     Pass     6S      Pass
                   Pass    Pass
     Here is an interesting hand that Andy Halpern of Orange
Village came across during a duplicate session.  The opening lead
was the four of hearts.  Before you read on, decide what line of
play you will adopt and whether you think you can make this slam
given competent defense.
     In the actual play, Halpern, sitting South, played low to
trick one.  East won the king of hearts and returned the seven of
spades.  This allowed Halpern to win the jack of spades.  He then
cashed the king of spades, returned to hand with the queen of
diamonds, drew the last trump with the ace of spades and played a
heart to the ace to enjoy the good diamonds and claim twelve
tricks.
     The questions that must be asked are:  1) Should declarer
duck the heart lead? and 2) If the answer is yes, what should
East lead to trick two?
     In order for it to be right to win the ace of hearts, spades

must break 3-2 and diamonds must break 4-2, and the opponent with
the long spade must also hold the long diamond.  Incredibly, this
is exactly the way it is and if declarer wins the ace, plays the
ace of spades, queen of diamonds, and king of spades, in that
order, he will make the small slam.  On the run of the good
diamonds, West must follow to the ace, king, and jack, and when
the six is played, declarer discards his last losing club and
West can trump with his good spade, but has no other winners.
     In spite of this, Halpern's decision to play low at trick
one is correct.  West should win the king and return a club. 
Declarer must win the ace and play a spade to the jack.  Cash the
king of spades and return to hand with the queen of diamonds. 
The ace of spades draws the last outstanding trump and the ace of
hearts is the entry to the good diamonds. This line only requires
that the queen of spades be in the East hand and that spades
break no worse than 3-2.
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