BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

NORTH opened 1♥ and East overcalled 1♠, after which South becomes declarer in 6♦ and West leads his singleton spade. Can South make the contract? YES. South wins with the ♠A and cashes a top trump, disclosing the 4-0 break. He must abandon drawing trumps and lead a heart to dummy’s Ace. He then ruffs a heart high, returning to dummy via the ♣A, and ruffs another heart high.

If West spots the trap he may try ‘discarding’ a trump, but it will not help.

Declarer will cash another top trump and throw West in with the ♦2, and West will have to put declarer back on table. If West does not part with a trump, South will cash two top diamonds before throwing West in.