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Posted on Thu, Oct 25, 2012 : 5 a.m.

Bridge column, October 25: Here we go again, beating a contract

By Philip Adler

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Sun Tzu, a Chinese general who died in the fifth century B.C., said, "A general is skillful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend, and he is skillful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack."

When we looked at this deal yesterday, declarer was skillful in bringing home 10 tricks in four spades by ruffing two hearts in the dummy and losing only two spades and one club.

Today, though, can you see how a skillful defender sitting West would defeat four spades doubled?

West's two spades and North's three hearts promised support for partner's suit and at least game-invitational values. East rebid four clubs to show his second suit, in case his side had a double fit and could win 10 or 11 tricks. But West, with short clubs, had no desire to go to the five-level, especially given the unfavorable vulnerability. Instead, he doubled four spades.

The bidding left West tempted to lead a club, but he wondered how his opponents would take 10 tricks given their paucity of high cards. It would happen only if they won a lot of trump tricks. Trying to reduce that possibility, West led the spade three.

East won with his ace and shifted to the club queen. South won with dummy's ace and called for the heart queen, covered by East with his king. What did West do now?

West overtook with his ace and led the spade queen. This momentarily cost one trump trick, but when South ruffed a heart in the dummy, West's spade 10 became a winner. Now the contract had to fail.

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