BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

North opened 1 ♥ and East overcalled 1 ♠ , after which South becomes declarer in 6 ♦ and West leads his singleton spade. Can South make the contract? Yes. south wins with the ♠ A and cashes a top trump, disclosing the 4-0 break. He must abandon drawing trumps and lead a heart to dummy’s Ace. He then ruffs a heart high, returning to dummy via the ♣ A, and ruffs another heart high.

If West spots the trap he may try ‘discarding’ a trump, but it will not help.

Declarer will cash another top trump and throw West in with the ♦ 2, and West will have to put declarer back on table. If West does not part with a trump, south will cash two top diamonds before throwing West in.