DECLARER PLAY PROBLEM #43

Rubber bridge
South dealer
Neither side vulnerable

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

SOUTH	WEST	NORTH	EAST
4 ♥	Pass	5 ♥	Pass
7 ♥	Pass	Pass	Pass

West leads the diamond jack.

Plan the play.

Solution

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

SAFE CROSSINGS. Declarer should search for the safest entry to the closed hand, in order to draw trumps. A ruff of the second spade, an early round of the shortest combined North-South side suit, is the best way. After East shows up with six trumps, declarer should leave himself with a major tenace in trumps (ten-eight, say), enter dummy with a club (if East can ruff, the contract cannot be made with any play), then lead a spade winner. If East ruffs, declarer can overruff, draw the last trump, and claim. If not, declarer discards a diamond and continues with diamond winners from dummy in a similar situation. If East keeps his trumps for the last two tricks, declarer ends with a coup position.

(Based on a deal and analysis from the 1964 National Intercollegiate 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.