BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

You are South, declarer in 3NT, and West leads ♥ Q. How would you plan the play?

You have two spade, two heart, and two club winners, plus sufficient extra in spades and diamonds to make your contract. But, with one of your heart stoppers gone, which of your two suits do you go for?

of course, you play on diamonds and knock out the ace; this will guarantee you three tricks in the suit.

You must on no account touch the spade suit because, if you lose to the queen, your second heart stopper will be knocked out while the defence still holds the ace of diamonds. It may seem obvious, but not everyone spots this!