Full Speed Ahead

Playing in a regional pairs event where everyone has at least 1500 masterpoints, we come to the table of two internationalists, well-known for their lightning-quick play. We reach 3NT on an uncontested auction and I see:

	AQ874 43 AKQ K43

	92 A765 10854 AJ8

North	South
1	1NT
2NT	3NT
Pass

West leads the

K and I see that 3NT is not cold. I have only seven tricks off the top and they have found my weakness immediately. I shall duck a few hearts and see what happens. On the first heart, East follows with the 2, but on the second one, he pitches the

2. Surprise! West had

KQJ1098 and failed to bid. That doesn't bode well for the spade finesse, but I shall need to get spade tricks to make this, so I win the second heart and play a small spade to the Jack, Queen and King. East wins and exits a low diamond to dummy; West following with the beer. I'd like to play the other spade from my hand, just in case West began with

J10x, but I can't believe that she'd not play low from that holding. Could she have a stiff Jack? If so, I should play low to my Nine and set up four sure spade tricks. She didn't play the

J in tempo, though, so I think she really has J10 doubleton. I don't want to damage my entries yet, so I cash the

A. Fortunately, both follow, but with low cards. I continue with a high spade and East wins while West and I pitch hearts. East continues with another diamond and I follow low and West pauses.

Since bridge is played at blitz speed at this table, she must be showing out, but, to be sure, I ask ``are you out-showing?'' She nods and I claim on the double squeeze. We have time to get a Coke.

In the hallway, I note to partner that a club shift by East would have broken up the endposition. Perhaps he should have played more slowly.