Plan your play carefully.
Bridge Column for September 24, 2000, By HARVEY BERNSTEIN
North-South vulnerable.  West deals.
                              NORTH
                              S: A K 9 8 3 2      
                              H: A K 8       
                              D: A           
                              C: 9 6 5   
            WEST                             EAST
            S: J 7 6 5                       S: Q 10 4       
            H: Q 5 2                         H: 3          
            D: K J 9 2                       D: Q 10 8 7 5        
            C: A Q                           C: 10 8 4 2    
                              SOUTH                         
                              S: Void      
                              H: J 10 9 7 6 4
                              D: 6 4 3     
                              C: K J 7 3  
          The Bidding://
                   WEST   NORTH     EAST   SOUTH                  
                    1D   Double      3D      4H 
                   Pass    4NT      Pass     5C 
                   Pass    5H       Pass    Pass
                   Pass
     The player in the North seat thought about slam but had a
change of heart and now all that South has to do is make the
contract.  The two of diamonds is led by West and the ace wins
the trick in the dummy.  How would you proceed?
     There is a potential trump loser and, based on the bidding,
three clubs could be lost.  On the other hand, the spade suit
could provide some needed discards.  With that in mind, cash the
ace and king of spades, discarding two clubs from hand.
     At trick four, lead a small spade and trump.  Lead a small
heart to the ace and play another spade.  If East can trump low,
over trump and play another heart to the dummy.  If East trumps
with the queen, simply discard another club.  In actuality, East
discards a diamond.  Declarer trumps and leads a trump to the
king.
     The spades are established and the best that the defense can
do is the queen of hearts and the ace of clubs.  
     The planning has to be done early on.  If you play before
you think, you will not do well on a hand like this.
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