Win by standing upside down

Susanne Bier, a Danish film director, said, “At some stage in most people's lives, things turn upside down, and nothing is as you expected it to be.”

That is true, especially with personal relationships. At the bridge table, you sometimes play a contract upside down, with the longer trump holding in the dummy, especially after a transfer bid. In today's deal, how would North have got on in four spades after the heart-nine lead, and how does South do against the heart-king lead?

North made a negative double to show exactly four spades. After that, North-South did well to avoid three notrump, which would have had no chance. Note also that five diamonds is hopeless.

Four spades needs careful handling, as is usually the case in a 4-3 fit. Declarer can see 10 winners, but he must be able to drive out the diamond ace and draw trumps without losing control.

If South wins the first trick, draws trumps and plays on diamonds, he goes down in flames, West running his heart suit. If declarer leads a diamond at trick two, West can duck this trick, take the second diamond and give his partner a diamond ruff. Then a shift to the club jack would kill the contract.

South must let West hold the first trick. If West perseveres with a second heart, declarer ruffs in his hand, draws trumps and plays on diamonds to get home. He takes at least four spades, four diamonds, one club and the heart ruff.

Note that if North is the declarer and ducks East's heart-nine lead, East can shift to the club jack with lethal effect.