BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

West is declarer in 6 . North leads the ♠ K. What is West’s best line of play? There are two club losers, and three trumps to the Queen outstanding. To have the best chance of success, care is needed at the very first trick.

West should ruff high, carefully preserving his ♦ 2. Next he cashes the ♥ KQ; if both opponents follow, his worries are over, as he can enter dummy with a high trump to the ace.

If both opponents follow to this, dummy’s second high trump will draw the one outstanding, and hearts are good for 13 tricks. West can even afford one opponent ruffing the second heart.

But West can succeed even against a 3-0 trump break. After the ♥ KQ he crosses to the table with a high trump to the Ace, and discards a club on the ♥ A, then ruffing a heart high.

Dummy is re-entered with the second high trump and the good hearts are run. The defence can take the ♦ Q when they like, but the ♦ 2 to the ♦ 3 will provide the necessary entry back to the table.