BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

You are playing the final slam of the week in a Grand — 7♦ — and North leads ♦4. What are your chances when the outstanding trumps break 3-2? THIS one is less obvious — and a little harder than the others — because, though I have featured dummy reversal situations several times before, declarers find difficulty in recognising them.

after counting and recounting your certain tricks, you’ll realise you have an inescapable spade loser — unless you can ruff three hearts in hand. after winning the lead in hand, immediately cash ♥a and ruff a heart high, return to dummy with ♣a, and ruff another heart high. If both opponents have followed, you can relax.

a trump to dummy’s knave enables you to take your third high heart ruff and you re-enter dummy with ♠a to draw the last trump (discarding your spade loser), before running the remainder of your club suit.

This line is going to succeed, unless clubs break 5-0 (4 per cent) or hearts break 6-1 (7 per cent).