DEFENSIVE PROBLEM #25

Rubber bridge
East dealer
East-West vulnerable

	NORTH (dummy) ♠ K 9 8 7 ♥ J 4 ♦ A Q 10 2 ♣ 6 5 3
		EAST (you) ♠ A 6 5 3 ♥ 10 8 2 ♦ 5 3 ♣ 9 8 7 2

SOUTH	WEST	NORTH	EAST
—	—	—	Pass
1 NT	Pass	2 ♣	Pass
2 ♠	Pass	4 ♠	(All Pass)

Club king, three, seven, four.

Club ace, five, deuce, jack.

Club queen, six, eight, spade four.

Plan your defense.

Solution

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

HOLD THAT TIGER. Assuming South started with four spades (if he had five, there is nothing to be done), once declarer has been forced to use up a trump by the third club lead, East can ensure two trump tricks by holding up the ace of trumps on the first two rounds of spades. Then, should declarer play a third round of trumps, East can win and force out the last North-South trump with another club lead. If, instead, declarer plays on the red suits, East can ruff the third round of diamonds.

(Based on a deal and analysis from the 1965 National Intercollegiate Bridge Tournament by William S. Root, Lawrence Rosler and Jeff Rubens.)

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