DECLARER PLAY PROBLEM #39

Rubber bridge
East dealer
Both sides vulnerable

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

SOUTH	WEST	NORTH	EAST
—	—	—	Pass
Pass	1 ♠	2 ♦	Pass
3 ♦	Pass	3 ♠	Pass
3 NT	Pass	Pass	Pass

West leads the spade jack.

Plan the play.

Solution

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

FIRST THINGS FIRST. After winning the first trick with the spade queen, South should lead a club. If the diamond suit runs, there will be no problem. Otherwise, a club trick will be needed. In that case, because declarer has only one more spade stopper, it is essential to knock out West's known club entry first. Then, declarer can hold up on the second spade lead, set up diamonds by finessing into the East hand, and thus prevent West from running spades. If, instead, declarer loses a trick in diamonds first, a spade continuation will set the contract. If West ducks the club lead, preserving his entry, declarer can turn to diamonds.

(Based on a deal and analysis from the 1964 National Intercollegiate Bridge Tournament by William S. Root and Lawrence Rosler.)

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