BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

How do you make 4 ♥ as South after west leads ♠ K, and assuming that west also holds all the missing minor suit honours?

There is no problem with the play if east has ♦ K or ♣ K, but we also try to plan for the worst scenario. You can be fairly certain of success by making a simple elimination play. Duck the lead and win ♠ Q continuation then ruff dummy’s last spade, followed by the ♥ A and ♥ Q (West shows out on

second round). Now lead ♣ J, which holds, followed by ♣ 10, which West wins and exits with a club to your ace. Finally, you cross to ♥ J, drawing the last trump, and lead a diamond, just covering whatever east plays. West will have to win and either give you a ruff and discard or lead up to your ♦ AQ.

Note the importance of ruffing the losing spade before trying to finesse or West will have a safe exit in spades.