Puzzle This

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Dlr:
South
Vul:
N-S
North
♠ 10 4 2
♥ A Q 7 4
♦ A Q 5
♣ A 7 6
South
♠ —
♥ K J 10 9 2
♦ K J 10 6 3
♣ J 4 3
West North East South
1♥
1♠ 2♠ 3♠ 4♦
4♠ 6♥ Pass Pass
6♠ Pass Pass 7♥
Dbl All Pass

Some comments on the auction:
Opening the South hand is aggressive but would be the choice of many experienced players. The 2♠ cuebid shows a good hand, typically with support for opener’s suit. At favorable vulnerability, West decided to sacrifice in 6♠ after North’s leap to slam. Notice North’s pass over 6♠:
This action is forcing because after North–South freely bid a vulnerable slam, the opponents cannot logically be allowed to declare undoubled. The pass asks South to double with one or more spades, but to consider bidding on with first-round control (the ace or a void). South bid the grand, and West doubled.
How would you play 7♥ on the lead of the ♠A?

View Solution
Dlr:
Vul:
North
♠ 10 4 2
♥ A Q 7 4
♦ A Q 5
♣ A 7 6
West
♠ A Q 9 8 7 6 3
♥ 8
♦ 9 2
♣ K Q 10
East
♠ K J 5
♥ 6 5 3
♦ 8 7 4
♣ 9 8 5 3
South
♠ —
♥ K J 10 9 2
♦ K J 10 6 3
♣ J 4 3

At first glance , it seems as if you have 11 top tricks: five hearts, five diamonds and the ♣A. How can you take two more tricks?

Ruff the opening lead, cross to dummy with a trump and ruff another spade. When you play the ♥ K, the 3–1 split is revealed, West showing out. Cross to dummy with a high diamond, and ruff the last spade with your remaining trump. East still has a trump left, so cross to the ♣A, draw the enemy trump with the ♥ Q, and run the diamonds for 13 tricks. Altogether you score three spade ruffs in your hand, four trumps in dummy, five diamonds and the ♣A.

This tactic, in which you take several ruffs in the long hand and finish drawing trumps with the short hand, is called a dummy reversal.