BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

YOu are South, declarer in 3NT against which West leads the ♠ 10. Plan the play. YOU haven’t a hope of making this contract unless you think before you start to play. First count your certain tricks — three spades, two hearts, one diamond and one club.

so you need two more and the only suit they can come from is clubs. that is the suit you must tackle and you have to cross your fingers and hope for a 3-2 club break.

You have an important bit of technique to bring in here — ducking. if clubs are going to break for you, all will be well, so lead a small club from dummy to the 10.

the defence will win and may return a second spade. Win and play another low club. if your hopes are realised, you will gain the lead again in whichever suit is returned and have a small club to lead, thus coming to three club tricks.

if you play the ace on the first or second round of the suit, you will have no entry back to dummy unless the opponents are helpful and put you there with a spade continuation, which would not be good defence.