BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

You are West declarer in 7NT, against which North leads the ♥ J. Plan the play.

There is no certain way to make this contract, but your prime objective must be to try to find out more about the distribution before you commit yourself to the two-way diamond finesse.

Clearly a beginner would have his chance of making the Grand Slam by a lucky guess in diamonds, but an experienced player eliminates as much guesswork as possible — and it is possible in this case.

West cashes his three top spades, and notes that both defenders followed. The ♣ A and ♣ K are played on which North shows out. Declarer can now count that South started with six clubs. he has also followed to three spades. West now cashes his three top hearts, and again South follows.

So twelve of South’s thirteen cards are known, and he can’t have more than a singleton diamond. Now it is no problem to cash the ♦ K and take the diamond finesse through North.