BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

How would you play the South hand in 4♥ after west leads ♦Q?

This looks pretty hopeless, unless you find one of the black queens is a doubleton; even then, you’ll need a 3-3 trump break because the opponents are certain to force you with diamonds. here is a classic opportunity to play on a dummy reversal, and is by far your best option. You aim to ruff all of your diamonds with your long trumps, using the two AKs as re-entries to dummy.

if both opponents follow suit to your dummy entries, you will have now made nine tricks — and your tenth will come from one of dummy’s remaining trumps.

The only difficult part about such a simple play is recognition of the situation — and awareness of this very valuable option.