BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

SoUtH plays in 3Nt, against which West leads the ♠ Q. How should South plan the play? A WISE South will take out insurance against bad breaks.

After winning with the ♠K, a diamond should be led immediately from dummy. If one defender has a doubleton honour, the insurance policy will pay off. So when the ♦ 10 falls on the first round, South takes another top diamond.

A third diamond will go to West, but the ♦ 8 will be established for the ninth trick. Nothing but disaster would have come from relying on hearts or clubs.