Take your time to find the answer

Terry Pratchett, an Englishman who, inter alia, authored 41 fantasy novels about Discworld, wrote, “A marriage is always made up of two people who are prepared to swear that only the other one snores.”

That doesn't have anything specific to do with today's deal, but I think it is amusing. Some players metaphorically snore at the table, just bidding and playing by rote, rather than analyzing the deal and trying to find the right line of play or defense.

In this deal, how can West defeat three hearts after leading the spade ace: four, 10, two?

The auction was interesting. After West opened one spade, North had a minimum two-level overcall, but he did have opening strength, and bridge is a bidder's game. South had a minimum for his two-heart advance. West's two-spade rebid promised at least a six-card suit. North supported with support. South happily passed, knowing that if four hearts were good, his partner would have bid it.

West continued with the spade king at trick two: eight, diamond three, seven. Then he paused. How did he view the prospects? West, knowing that his partner had started with a singleton spade and scant high-card values, could see four winners: three spades and one heart. But where was number five?

West shifted to his singleton club at trick three. South won in his hand and played a low trump, but West took the trick with his ace and continued with his low spade. East ruffed and gave his partner a club ruff to defeat the contract.