DECLARER PLAY PROBLEM #32

Rubber bridge
West dealer
Both sides vulnerable

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

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

West leads the spade four.

Plan the play.

Solution

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

PENNY WISE, POUND FOOLISH. South needs to run the bulk of the diamond suit to make the contract. Accordingly, declarer must win the first trick with the spade ace, to have a spade entry to dummy after establishing the diamond suit; otherwise, accurate defense can shut out dummy. No lie of the cards consistent with the bidding can defeat the contract if South wins the first trick with ace of spades, then overtakes the king of diamonds with dummy's ace and continues the suit.

(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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