Can you defeat this contract?
Bridge Column for November 8, 2002, Harvey Bernstein
Neither side vulnerable.  West deals.
                              North
                              S: J 10 5 3         
                              H: A 3 2       
                              D: A K 6 5     
                              C: 5 2     
            West                             East
            S: K 8 4                         S: Void         
            H: 6 4                           H: K Q J 8 7  
            D: J 10 2                        D: 7 4 3             
            C: A K J 10 8                    C: Q 9 7 6 4   
                              South                         
                              S: A Q 9 7 6 2
                              H: 10 9 5     
                              D: Q 9 8     
                              C: 3    
          The Bidding:  
                   West   North     East   South                  
                   Pass    1D        1H     1S  
                    2C     2S        3C     3S  
                  Double   Pass      4C     4S  
                  Double   Pass     Pass    Pass
     Thanks to Steve Vrooman of Beachwood for passing this hand
along.  There was nothing spectacular about the bidding.  East
made a very normal overcall and then raised clubs.  Had West not
doubled three spades, that would very likely have become the
final contract.  
     East bid four clubs because he thought it would be very hard
to defeat three spades (he was correct)!  South felt that four
spades was very close and that defeating four clubs would be
difficult.  West, just a little upset by the fact that nobody had
any respect for his double of three spades, doubled four spades.
     The opening lead was the six of hearts.  East played the
jack which was allowed to hold this trick.  He continued with the
king of hearts, won by the ace in the dummy.  Pretend you are
West.  Look at all four hands and decide if you want to declare
or defend.
     Did you elect to defend?  It appears that no matter how
declarer proceeds, at some point in time you will gain the lead
with the king of spades and your partner will play the nine of
clubs on this trick, showing a club honor.  You confidently under
lead your ace-king of clubs.  Partner wins the queen and cashes a
high heart to defeat the contract.
     When the hand was actually played, four spades was made at
every table.  It wasn't bid at every table, but North-South
declared a spade game or partial and always made ten tricks. 
Often, the opening lead was the ace or king of clubs.  While this
is usually correct, on this layout, it did not turn out well. 
     Defense is tough - and you will defend twice as often as you 
will declare.  That is why it is good to study these types of hands.
_______________________________________________________
Bernstein is a free-lance writer in Solon.