BRIDGE

If trumps were 3-1, South had only three losers: one spade, one heart and one club. So he wondered about a 4-0 split. Then he would need to establish a quick diamond trick on which to discard his heart loser. But even if he got lucky in diamonds, he would require a dummy entry.

Declarer cashed his spade ace at trick two, getting the bad news. Then he led the diamond queen, planning to run it. However, when West covered with the king, South won with dummy’s ace and continued with the diamond 10.

If East had played low, declarer would have pitched the heart four. After East played the jack, though, South ruffed, crossed to the spade king and threw the heart four on the diamond nine.

Then declarer claimed his contract, conceding two spades and one club.