BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

West ♠ Q74 ♥ AK ♦ Q J 10 4 ♣ AJ74 East ♠ KJ532 ♥ 73 ♦ KJ3 ♣ KQ5 You play West in 3NT and North leads ♥ Q. Plan the play. yoU have no option but to win the first trick — and you know for sure that one opponent has at least five hearts.

yesterday, we saw why it was correct to tackle spades first. Today, that could be disastrous if the opponents can gain the lead before you have made nine tricks and they’ll cash established heart winners. So you must knock out ♦ A immediately to guarantee nine tricks.

Sadly, this correct technical line will get you a poor score at duplicate because the players — who, out of ignorance or gambling spirit, lead a spade — will score an overtrick 18 per cent of the time when the suit breaks 3-2.

They will lose only 28 per cent of the time on a 4-1 break.

my logical advice should be to play a spade at Pairs and a diamond at Teams or rubber.