After side suits must come trumps

It is tough to find a quote using the word “trump” without seeing comments by our president, who, I guess, does not play bridge.

When you are defending, you hope declarer’s contract is like a house of cards, ready to be blown over if you find the right direction for a strong puff of wind.

How can the defenders collapse today’s four-heart contract after West leads the spade ace?

This deal seems to exhibit an advantage of two-over-one game-force. North could have rebid a forcing three hearts to suggest a slam. Here, South would have continued with four hearts because he had a minimum opening. In Standard, North had no choice but to jump to game. However, in Standard, if South had an extra value that would have made slam desirable, say the spade king, he would have rebid three hearts, not two. The opener tries to define his hand strength with his rebid, which he does not do in two-over-one.

East encourages with the spade nine at trick one. So, West continues with the spade king and the spade two. What happens next?

East checks the high-card points. He has six, partner has already produced seven, and the dummy contains 15. That leaves only 12 unaccounted for. South must have the heart ace-king and club ace. So, as the defenders cannot get another side-suit trick, it is time to try for a trump winner. East should lead his last spade, and when West ruffs with the heart eight, it effects an uppercut.

When you have taken every possible side-suit trick, give a ruff-and-sluff.