BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

WEST leads ♠9 against South’s 4♥. How should declarer play after discovering the bad trump break?

THIS isn’t a difficult problem as there are three diamond losers and an apparent trump loser. On the other hand, you have ten winners (four trumps, three clubs and three spades).

The mistake to avoid is to try to cash three spades. Declarer must win only one more spade and then cash his top clubs, discarding the ♠Q. The spade ruff then secures the contract.