Consider all of the possibilities.
Bridge Column for September 17, 2000, By HARVEY BERNSTEIN
Neither side vulnerable.  East deals.
                              NORTH
                              S: 9 2              
                              H: 4 3 2       
                              D: A K J 10 7  
                              C: A K 9   
            WEST                             EAST
            S: Q 10 5 3                      S: 7 6          
            H: 10 9 8 7                      H: A K Q J 6  
            D: 6 5                           D: 4 3 2             
            C: 4 3 2                         C: Q J 10      
                              SOUTH                         
                              S: A K J 8 4 
                              H: 5      
                              D: Q 9 8     
                              C: 8 7 6 5  
          The Bidding://
                   EAST   SOUTH     WEST   NORTH                  
                    1H     1S       Pass     2H 
                   Pass    2S       Pass     4S 
                   Pass    Pass     Pass    
     After South's overcall, North's cue bid shows a game going
hand.  South rebids two spades to indicate a minimum overcall and
North decides to try for the ten trick spade game instead of the
diamond game.  As the cards lie, it takes specifically a diamond
lead to defeat six diamonds, but it is near impossible to bid.
     Against four spades, West leads the ten of hearts, and when
that holds, another heart is led.  South has nothing else to do
but trump.  On lead at trick three, declarer must decide how to
play the spade suit.  Looking at only the spade suit, it seems
correct to cash one top spade and then to enter dummy with a club
and lead the nine of spades, letting it ride if it is not
covered.
     Declarer must look at the hand as a whole.  If the finesse
fails, another heart will be led by the defense.  He will be
forced to trump.  Now, if trumps divide as shown in the diagram,
West will have more trumps than declarer.  This can't be good.
     It is much better for declarer to realize the importance of
retaining trump control.  He should cash the ace and king of
spades and then leave the last two trumps outstanding.  Now, the
run of the diamonds ruins West.  He can trump in and cash the
queen of spades, but declarer will win four spades, four diamonds
and two clubs for ten tricks, a much better result.
     It is true that there are many other distributions of the
spade suit which could make it seem that the finesse is the
correct play.  And the form of competition may be the deciding
factor.  But be aware of the risk and consider your alternatives
before adopting a line of play.
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