DECLARER PLAY PROBLEM #30

Rubber bridge
South dealer
East-West vulnerable

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

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

West leads the club queen; East plays the seven.

Plan the play.

Solution

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

KEEP EAST OUT. South's best play is to try to set up dummy's fourth spade for a diamond discard. (If spades do not break three-three, declarer can try a lead towards the king of diamonds.) Declarer should try to keep East from winning the lead--by allowing West to hold the first trick and, later, by leading a low spade from dummy and covering whatever card East plays. If East can get on lead before the fourth spade is established, a diamond lead through the king will set the contract.

(Based on a deal and analysis from the 1964 National Industrial Recreation Association Par-Hand Bridge Tournament by William S. Root and Lawrence Rosler.)

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