DECLARER PLAY PROBLEM #20

Rubber bridge
West dealer
Neither side vulnerable

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

SOUTH	WEST	NORTH	EAST
—	1 ♠	Double	Pass
3 ♥	Pass	4 ♥	Pass
Pass	Pass

West leads the king, ace and nine of spades; East plays the ten and four.

Plan the play.

Solution

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

DELAY THE DISCARD. To assure the contract, assuming only that the opening bidder holds the ace of diamonds, declarer must ruff the third spade lead with a heart honor in dummy, cash one high heart from dummy, lead a heart to the queen, then lead the three of diamonds. This play (sometimes called a Morton's Fork Coup because it gives the defender an unpleasant choice) succeeds because if West goes up with the ace of diamonds declarer can discard the losing club on the queen of diamonds, while if West ducks the diamond declarer can win the diamond queen, lead a trump back to the closed hand, cash the jack of spades to discard a diamond from dummy, and lead the king to endplay West.

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

Our learning center web pages are dedicated to teaching the game of bridge. There are lessons for first-time players, as well as for those at the elementary and intermediate levels. You can find the appropriate section, and proceed through the lessons.

BEGINNER: Learn how to play bridge if you have never played before. The beginner lessons here are designed for those who know little or nothing about the game.

ELEMENTARY: If you understand the basics of the game, and are ready to proceed further.

INTERMEDIATE: Here is a collection of intermediate-level problems in bidding, declarer play, and defense for you to practice and improve your game.