Find the right defense.
Bridge Column for July 23, 2000, By HARVEY BERNSTEIN
Both sides vulnerable.  South deals.
                              NORTH
                              S: A 5              
                              H: K Q J 7 6   
                              D: 9 8 4 2     
                              C: 7 5     
            WEST                             EAST
            S: 6                             S: Q 10 8 7 3 
            H: 10 5 3                        H: 8 4        
            D: A K J 10 3                    D: 7                 
            C: Q 9 6 4                       C: K 10 8 3 2  
                              SOUTH                         
                              S: K J 9 4 2
                              H: A 9 2      
                              D: Q 6 5     
                              C: A J      
          The Bidding://
                  SOUTH    WEST    NORTH    EAST                  
                   1NT     Pass     2D      Pass
                   2H      Pass     3NT     Pass
                   4H
     Here is a situation that comes up quite often.  South opens
one no trump - yes, he has a five card spade suit, but there are  
rebid problems if he opens one spade.  The hand was actually
played at a high level team game and at both tables, experts in
the South seat opened one no trump.
     North's two diamonds is a transfer to hearts and three no
trump asks South to pass with only two hearts or to bid the heart
game if he has more than two hearts, which is what happened at
both tables during the match.
     At both tables, the opening lead was the ace of diamonds. 
Upon seeing the dummy, it is clear that East has no more than two
diamonds.  West has to decide how to continue.  You are looking
at all four hands.  What would you lead to trick two?
     At one table, West continued with diamonds.  He cashed the
ace and king and East trumped the third diamond, completing the
defensive book.  At this point, however, declarer was able to
trump dummies fourth diamond with the ace of hearts, draw trump,
and take the spade finesse for his tenth trick, making four
hearts.
     At the other table, West switched to a small heart. 
Declarer now had to deal with two more diamond losers along with
a potential club loser.  He won the trump continuation and played
the ace of spades.  Both defenders followed low.  A spade to the
king sealed his fate.  West trumped and exited with his last
heart.  Declarer could not avoid losing two more diamonds and a
club for down two.
     It is often right to lead trumps against this type of
auction, forcing declarer to set up tricks by himself.  In this
hand, there was no rush to cash diamond tricks, as is so evident
in the final result.
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