DECLARER PLAY PROBLEM #4

Rubber bridge
West dealer
East-West vulnerable

	NORTH ♠ J 10 9 5 ♥ A 6 ♦ A 8 6 2 ♣ A K J
	SOUTH ♠ 8 6 3 2 ♥ 9 7 ♦ 7 4 3 ♣ Q 7 4 2

SOUTH	WEST	NORTH	EAST
—	1 ♥	Double	2 ♥
Pass	Pass	Double	Pass
2 ♠	Pass	Pass	Pass

West leads the king of hearts.

Plan the play.

Solution

	NORTH ♠ J 10 9 5 ♥ A 6 ♦ A 8 6 2 ♣ A K J
WEST ♠ A Q ♥ K Q J 4 2 ♦ Q J 9 ♣ 10 8 5		EAST ♠ K 7 4 ♥ 10 8 5 3 ♦ K 10 5 ♣ 9 6 3
	SOUTH ♠ 8 6 3 2 ♥ 9 7 ♦ 7 4 3 ♣ Q 7 4 2

CRASH THE TRUMPS. South has six losing tricks in sight: three spades, two diamonds and one heart. The only chance to land the contract is to find the clubs divided three-three, with one of the opponents holding two trump honors doubleton. Declarer should win the opening lead, cash three club tricks ending with the lead in the closed hand, then lead a fourth club and discard the losing heart from dummy. As the cards lie, this line of play eliminates the losing heart trick, while the opponents can still win only three spade tricks. If East trumps the fourth club lead with an honor, the defenders have only two more trump tricks; and if West trumps the fourth club lead with a low trump, South can hold subsequent spade losers to two tricks by crashing the trumps--leading them twice and forcing the opponents to play two top honors on one trick.

(Based on a deal and analysis from the 1963 National Industrial Recreation Association Par-Hand Bridge Tournament by William S. Root and Lawrence Rosler.)

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