DECLARER PLAY PROBLEM #19

Rubber bridge
South dealer
Neither side vulnerable

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

SOUTH	WEST	NORTH	EAST
1 ♦	Pass	1 ♥	1 ♠
3 ♦	Pass	3 ♥	Pass
3 NT	Pass	Pass	Pass

West leads the spade eight.

Plan the play.

Solution

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

SECOND-HAND HIGH. If South plays dummy's ten of spades or five of spades on trick one, the defense can set the contract. Since East bid spades and West led the eight of spades, it can be assumed that East has spade length, including the ace-jack. By putting up dummy's queen at trick one, declarer can assure the contract under this assumption. No matter what line of defense is adopted, East cannot set up his spades before South sets up his diamonds and gets nine tricks.

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

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