DECLARER PLAY PROBLEM #8

Rubber bridge
South dealer
Both sides vulnerable

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

SOUTH	WEST	NORTH	EAST
1 ♥	Double	2 ♥	Pass
4 ♥	Pass	Pass	Pass

West leads the club ace, then the club five; East plays the seven and nine.

Plan the play.

Solution

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

A SURE THING. Declarer should win trick two, draw three rounds of trumps ending in dummy (starting with the king, since West, who doubled for takeout, is more likely to be void of hearts than East), then lead a low spade to the eight. Once trumps have behaved, this line ensures the contract against any distribution of the cards. West can capture the eight of spades, but he is endplayed: any lead gives declarer a tenth 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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