BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

SOUTH is declarer in 5 ♦ . West leads ♣ K and dummy’s ♣ A wins. How should South plan the play? AT TRICK 2, declarer should lead a heart from dummy. Whoever wins this — assume it’s West — back will come another club. Declarer can ruff this, and can then also afford to cash two rounds of diamonds. This reveals that East started with ♦ J-x-x.

South must leave diamonds alone for the moment, and cash ♠ K, followed by the ♠ A, and a spade ruff. He now has a re-entry to his own hand via the ♥ Q and can lead his fourth and last spade on which West plays the Queen.

Declarer knows East has no more spades and from the earlier play he also knows East holds the outstanding ♦ J. Declarer must not ruff in dummy, but should discard the last heart.

West then holds the trick but, providing East started with four hearts, he can do declarer no harm. South will be able to ruff his last heart and subsequently draw the ♦ J for his contract.