Maintain control and make your contract.
Bridge Column for April 4, 2003, Harvey Bernstein
East-West vulnerable.  South deals.
                              North
                              S: 9 6 3            
                              H: K 10 8 5 2  
                              D: 10 7      
                              C: A K 3   
            West                             East
            S: 10 8                          S: Q J 5   
            H: 9 6 4 3                       H: A J        
            D: Q 3 2                         D: A K J 9 8 5 4     
            C: J 10 8 4                      C: 2      
                              South                         
                              S: A K 7 4 2 
                              H: Q 7        
                              D: 6         
                              C: Q 9 7 6 5 
          The Bidding:  
                  South    West    North    East                  
                   1S      Pass     2S       3D 
                   3S      Pass     Pass    Pass
     The opening lead was the two of diamonds.  East won the king
and continued with the ace.  Declarer trumped and played three
rounds of spades.  East won the queen and perservered with
diamonds.  Declarer trumped and played on clubs.  When that suit
failed to behave, declarer switched to hearts.  East won the ace
and claimed the balance of the tricks with good diamonds.  Down
two was a very poor result.
     Can you spot declarer's mistake?  After trumping the second
diamond, declarer should play only the ace and king of spades. 
When both defenders follow, declarer should allow the queen to
remain outstanding and start playing on clubs.  No matter what
the defense does, declarer will hold his losses to one spade, one
heart, and one diamond, making four.
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Bernstein is a free-lance writer in Solon.