Find the right defense.
Bridge Column for March 14, 2003, Harvey Bernstein
Neither side vulnerable.  South deals.
                              North
                              S: K J 9 8 7        
                              H: 7 6         
                              D: K J 10 6      
                              C: J 5 
            West                             East
            S: 5 3 2                         S: A 6 4        
            H: K J 8 4 2                     H: Q 9        
            D: 7 5                           D: A 8 4 2           
            C: 9 6 2                         C: A Q 10 7    
                              South                         
                              S: Q 10 
                              H: A 10 5 3   
                              D: Q 9 3     
                              C: K 8 4 3  
          The Bidding:  
                  South    West    North    East                  
                   1C      Pass     1S      Pass
                   1NT     Pass     Pass    Pass
     Thanks to Stan Dub of Shaker Heights for this hand from the
District 5 Grand National Team qualifying event in Erie, PA on
February 22 and 23.  Dub held the East cards and took the
conservative approach when the bidding got around to him.  He had
already heard South open the bidding and North reply, so his
partner, Niel Waletzky of Shaker Heights, could not have much in
the way of support.
     Dub's decision turned out to be correct when South rebid one
no trump and the bidding ended.  Waletzky led the four of hearts
and declarer no clue as to where the defensive values were.
     Dub contributed the queen of hearts to trick one which
declarer won with the ace.  The queen of spades was led and
allowed to hold the trick.  The ten of spades was captured by the
ace.  Dub led the nine of hearts which was ducked all around. 
With no more hearts to play, Dub led the queen of clubs. 
Declarer does best to duck but this is hard to see.  
     Upon winning the king of clubs, a diamond was led in an
attempt to reach dummies spades.  The jack was taken by Dub's
ace.  The ace of clubs smothered the jack in dummy.  
     So far the defense has taken one spade, one heart, one
diamond, and one club.  In order to prevail, Dub has to find a
way to reach his partner's long hearts.  The only possibility is
the nine of clubs.  Accordingly, Dub placed the seven of clubs on
the table and Waletzky won the nine and cashed three heart tricks
for a two trick set.  
     This result contributed to a four IMP (International Match
Point) gain on the hand in a semi-final match that the Waletzky
team won by three IMPs.
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Bernstein is a free-lance writer in Solon.