DECLARER PLAY PROBLEM #42

Rubber bridge
North dealer
East-West vulnerable

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

SOUTH	WEST	NORTH	EAST
—	—	Pass	Pass
1 ♣	Pass	1 ♦	Pass
2 NT	Pass	3 NT	(All Pass)

West leads the spade three; East plays the four.

Plan the play.

Solution

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

EITHER-OR. Even if declarer can get four diamond tricks (perhaps because the opponent with the ace of diamonds is unable to hold up until the third round of the suit), two club tricks will still be needed. Therefore, declarer should immediately use a diamond entry to dummy (leading the jack to the queen) to take a club finesse. Should that succeed and a second round of diamonds (the nine to the ten) reveal that South will be limited to two diamond tricks, another lead from dummy can be used for a second club finesse, giving declarer the best chance for the four club tricks that will then be necessary.

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

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