BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

You are South playing in 4 ♠ , and West leads ♦ Q. Plan the play.

When you are considering your options, it is always a good idea to look at the worst scenario. here, the obvious danger is that the ♥ A is offside and east can gain the lead; you will then lose a club and three hearts.

You have no problem if either east has ♥ A or West holds four clubs. So, cash the ♦ AK before drawing trumps ending in dummy. now, you lead a club and finesse the 10; if West wins, he must return a club, which you win and continue the suit, discarding a heart on the fourth round. Assuming that the cards lie badly, you have at least done your best to endplay West.