BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

South opened 1 ♥ and, with no opposition bidding, eventually becomes declarer in 4 ♣ . West leads the ♠ A (ace from AK combination). how do you plan the defence as East? IT’S necessary to know your signals for this one — play the ♠ Q, which guarantees that you hold the ♠ J. Unless he has no wish to put you on lead at Trick Two, West will lead a low spade to your

♠ J. That will be two tricks for the defence, and you have the ♦ A for a third.

If you can make it impossible for South to finesse your ♥ K twice, you will also make the ♥ K to defeat the contract. So when you are put in with the ♠ J at Trick Two, cash the ♦ A to make sure of it and then lead a third spade in the hope that declarer will have to ruff in dummy.

If you don’t cash the ♦ A, declarer, with a singleton diamond, might get rid of it on one of dummy’s clubs.

That third spade is your only hope of making declarer use up one of dummy’s trumps.