Bridge - The Scotsman 16/02/2012

East-West did well to reach game on this deal from the European Championship Trials. West has just ten points, but compensating distribution when partner bids his four-card major. With his maximum weak no-trump East accepted the invitation to game.

South led a spade to the nine and ace, and declarer liked his dummy. He led the jack of hearts. South won the king and switched to ace and another club, ruffed in dummy. South won the next heart and played a third club, ruffed with dummy’s queen. Declarer was left with 105 in hearts, but South’s 86 guaranteed a third heart trick.

Not a great effort by declarer. Since dummy is the hand that may be forced to ruff he should use dummy’s high trump to force out the ace and king, preserving his J10 to draw trump later. If he leads low towards dummy South should duck, and now he can afford a low heart from dummy. South wins and plays clubs. Declarer cannot play a third heart – South will win and cash a club, so he hopes South has a balanced distribution. He cashes three top diamonds, discarding his last club, and two more top spades, ending in hand to lead the thirteenth spade in this position:

Whatever South does he makes only one more trick with the ace of hearts.