CANADIAN BRIDGE

South topped the king with the ace to lead a trump for the king and ace. East switched to a diamond to receive a ruff and the queen of spades yielded a fourth defensive trick. The major suit game was down one, N-S -50. The minor suit game would suffer a similar fate because North is booked to lose a spade and the red-suit aces. The winning action is for South to advance to 3NT when North offered a heart preference. West will begin with a spade where declarer will win and drive out the ace of diamonds to ensure success. A club lead would set the game because of the duplication in that suit. North would have no chance in the nine-trick game when East begins with a club. In fact, he must cash out eight tricks after dislodging the ace of diamonds to avoid a two-trick set. North could survive a spade lead ducked to the queen. A spade continuation kills the ace but the suit is blocked. North could then drive out the ace of diamonds to emerge with nine tricks and the game bonus. Any notion by East to unblock the spade king when North follows with the jack on the second round would concede an overtrick.