BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

YOU are South playing in 3NT at Pairs, even though 6 ♦ looks a reasonable contract. how do you play to make all the tricks after West leads ♥ J? IF YOU start by finessing the ♦ J, and then lead ♠ J which is covered by the king, the expert eye will spot that you have a perfect set up for a double squeeze. You cash the ♠ Q10, discovering the bad break, and then switch to running diamonds.

Both opponents are forced to find discards, and we’ll continue on monday with the ‘traditional’ four-card ending.

Strangely, the declarers ran diamonds before testing spades, and the Easts discarded a spade (even though the suit had been bid), in choosing to protect clubs.