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, a 100 per cent option is available. But inexperienced players overlook the obvious if 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.