Bridge Column for June 27, 2003, Harvey Bernstein
Neither side vulnerable.  South deals.
                              North
                              S: K Q 4 3 2          
                              H: A 4         
                              D: 8           
                              C: A J 10 5 2
            West                             East
            S: J                             S: 8 7          
            H: 9 8 7 5 3                     H: K 10 6 2   
            D: K 6 5 2                       D: J 10 7 4 3        
            C: 9 8 7                         C: Q 6     
                              South                         
                              S: A 10 9 6 5 
                              H: Q J        
                              D: A Q 9     
                              C: K 4 3    
          The Bidding:  
                  South    West    North    East                  
                   1S      Pass     3S      Pass
                   4NT     Pass     5H      Pass
                   5NT     Pass     6D      Pass
                   6S      Pass     Pass    Pass
     Today's hand is an excellent test of a player's expertise. 
West leads the nine of hearts.  Decide on your line of play as
declarer.
     Which finesse would you take and which would you avoid? 
Certainly the opening lead is a clue that the heart finesse will
fail, so play the ace and try to construct a plan that will bring
home twelve tricks.
     Play a high trump and note that both defenders follow.  The
eight of diamonds goes to the ace and the nine of diamonds is
trumped with a low spade.  Another low spade is led and the ace
from the closed hand clears the trump suit.  The queen of
diamonds is trumped and now the four of hearts is led toward the
queen.  East wins the king but he has only losing options.  A
club lead will sacrifice the queen and any other lead will allow
declarer to discard a small club from hand while winning the
trick with the dummies last trump.
      If you selected this line you have executed a "strip and
end play".  You have avoided taking any finesses and are well on
your way to becoming a master.
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Bernstein is a free-lance writer in Solon.