BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

Plan the play in 4 ♥ , after South had opened 1nT (12-14), and north leads ♣ J, won by South’s ace, who then switches to ♠ J. THE contract is easy provided you remember South’s NT opening. This means he holds all the outstanding values, including ♠ A 10.

Your plan should be to endplay South, which necessitates you play your cards in the right sequence.

You win ♠ J return and come to hand with ♥ A, then cash ♣ k and play a diamond. South ducks this or your problems are over. ruff dummy’s club, then run the remaining trumps discarding diamonds from dummy. You can be certain South’s last three cards are ♠ A 10 and ♦ A, and you have ♠ k9 and ♦ Q in dummy. Your last diamond puts him on lead to play away from his ace.