Bridge

Top bridge players picture where the missing key cards might be located. They assume the worst and try to find a line of play or defense to end the deal without frostbite.

What should South have done in this deal after West led the club jack?

North used a Texas transfer to make his partner the declarer in four hearts. Note that in this deal, the transfer did its job. Four hearts by North is defeated if East leads the spade queen, which would have been his most likely start.

South won the first trick and cashed the heart king, expecting to be playing for an overtrick. West’s club discard was a blow. Could declarer survive if East did not have the spade ace?

South pictured one possibility. He drew a second round of trumps, cashed the diamond king, played a diamond to his ace, ruffed a diamond, returned to his hand with a club and led his last diamond. When West followed suit, declarer did not ruff; instead, he discarded a spade from the dummy. West then had either to lead away from his spade ace or to concede a ruff-and-sluff.