BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

YOu are West in 6 ♣ and North leads ♠ Q. How would you play this one? COunTInG your tricks, there are 11 for sure. And the 12th will come from a simple heart finesse — you might even make an overtrick if north started with ♥ Kx.

On the other hand, you go down immediately if South has ♥ K and promptly cashes a spade. It is bad bridge to take a 50 per cent option when, as here, there is a 100 per cent option available. But inexperienced players will overlook the obvious when they start to play the hand too quickly.

The guaranteed solution is to take a ruffing finesse in hearts against South. Draw trumps, then cash ♥ A and discard your losing spade on ♥ Q (unless South covers). You will subsequently discard your losing diamond on ♥ J.

PETER DONOVAN