A difficult decision.
Bridge Column for December 17, 2000, By HARVEY BERNSTEIN
Both sides vulnerable.  North deals.
                              NORTH
                              S: 4 3          
                              H: A Q J       
                              D: Q J 10 9 8  
                              C: K J 10  
            WEST                             EAST
            S: 7 5                           S: K Q J 8 6    
            H: 9 7 6 4 3                     H: 8 2        
            D: K 2                           D: A 5 3             
            C: 8 5 3 2                       C: 9 6 4       
                              SOUTH                         
                              S: A 10 9 2 
                              H: K 10 5     
                              D: 7 6 4     
                              C: A Q 7    
          The Bidding://
                  NORTH    EAST    SOUTH    WEST                  
                   1D       1S      2NT     Pass
                   3NT     Pass     Pass    Pass
     West leads the seven of spades against three no trump.  Look
at all four hands and decide if you want to defend or declare.
     Did you decide to declare?  East plays the jack of spades
and you duck.  You win any spade continuation as cheaply as
possible and start on diamonds.  West wins the king and has no
spade to continue with so you are safe and you can establish
diamonds before the defense can score enough spade tricks to
defeat you.
     Should that have been your choice?  What if East plays a low
spade at trick one?  You are forced to win and when you lead a
diamond West will be able to win the king and play a second
spade.  Now East can drive out your second spade stopper and
still have the ace of diamonds to be able to regain the lead and
defeat you.
     Don't feel bad if you made the wrong choice.  This was a
very difficult decision and it is very likely that the majority
of players would automatically play the jack of spades to trick
one when holding West's cards.  The expert player will know that
his partner has only one or two spades from the lead of the
seven.  He will also know that declarer has all of the
outstanding high cards in that suit.  If West held the seven-
five-two of spades, he would have led the two, showing either
three or four cards in the suit.  There would also be the remote
chance that he held a singleton, but then there is no defense
whatsoever.  
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