NEIL HAYWARD BRIDGE

Opening Lead: ♣ 2. East wins with the ♣ T, and plays the ♣ K. What is your plan?

Recommended Line: You are fortunate to have avoided a diamond switch. But don’t let this reprieve cause you to lose focus. You are not out of the woods yet; the major suits give you nine tricks, and that seems to be it.

Although you have been told, don’t trump with the longer holding, every rule has its exception. When in dire straits, you may have to throw out the book of rules.

In this case, you plan to trump clubs three times in hand. Cross to dummy twice in hearts to trump two more clubs, using a high trump at the end. Then draw trumps.

You win three club tricks, in a sense, and nine tricks become ten, thanks to a miracle. I mean, a dummy reversal.