BRIDGE

West began with the jack of clubs as South drew trump to dispose of the nine of hearts on the club ace. A diamond to the ten dislodged the ace but East was entitled to a diamond winner, resulting in eleven tricks. West held too many clubs for that suit to be an effective choice. He should begin with a fourth best heart where the defense will hold South to the contract since two diamond losers are inevitable.

North's artificial response disclosed a four-card limit raise of spades causing South to advance to the major suit game.

E-W own a ten-card club fit and a nine-card heart fit but could not find a way into the auction. A sacrifice in either suit would furnish a profit as long as declarer did not suffer a doubled three-trick set. A loss of 500 points would harness E-W with a matchpoint zero. On this layout, it would be very difficult for N-S to emerge with five defensive tricks. However, all of this is likely irrelevant because South would not allow E-W to play in five of either rounded suit. He would venture five spades, a contract that would be defeated by a well-chosen heart lead.