BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

You are South playing in 3NT, against which West leads the ♥ K. How would you plan the play? In the first instance, you must hold up the ♥ A until the second round, as you can see two heart losers, one spade loser and a possible diamond if you fail to guess the finesse right.

You don’t need to hold up twice as, if East gains the lead and has another heart to play, West will have started with only four.

You can guarantee a safety play for three diamond tricks which, together with three clubs, two spades and a heart, will ensure your contract.

Win the ♥ A, then play ♦ A and a small diamond towards dummy, finessing ♦ 10, unless West shows out, when you’d win ♦ K and play another diamond.