| Dlr: South | ♠ 8 | |
| Vul: N-S | ♥ 8 5 2 | |
| ♦ 6 4 3 2 | ||
| ♣K J 7 4 3 | ||
| ♠ A K Q 5 | ||
| ♥ K Q J 10 6 | ||
| ♦ 10 | ||
| ♣ A 8 5 |
| West | North | East | South |
| 1♥ | |||
| 2♥(1) | Pass | 2♠ | Dbl |
| Pass | 3♥(2) | Pass | 4♥ | All Pass |
(1) Five or more spades and five or more of a minor
(2) Some values in context
Terence Reese classified bids such as West’s 2♥ as extremely dangerous if the bidder’s side did not play the hand. Reese believed that, in such cases, declarer could often adopt an almost double-dummy line to bring home an otherwise tricky contract. How will you take advantage after West leads the ♦A and continues with the ♦K?
Solution
Declarer ruffed the second diamond low then cashed the ♠A. After ruffing the ♠5 in dummy, declarer played a trump to his king. East took the next trump with the ace to lead a third diamond. This return marked West with a 5=1=5=2 distribution originally and East with a corresponding 3=4=3=3 shape which, in turn, allowed declarer to be certain that there was no remaining link between the defender’s hands as East had 1=1=0=3 shape remaining.
Declarer ruffed the third round of diamonds and played his last trump, throwing dummy’s remaining diamond. After cashing the ♠K, declarer had the ♠Q and three clubs to the ace left. East was down to the *H*9 and *C*Q 10 2. When declarer played the *S*Q, East had a choice of unpleasant outcomes. If he ruffed, he would be end-played and declarer would make three club tricks and his contract. If instead East discarded a club, the ♠Q would be declarer’s eighth trick with the ♣A and ♣K to come. East simply folded his cards and conceded the contract. The full deal:
| Dlr: South | ♠ 8 | |
| Vul: N-S | ♥ 8 5 2 | |
| ♦ 6 4 3 2 | ||
| ♣ K J 7 4 3 | ||
| ♠ J 10 6 4 3 | ♠ 9 7 2 | |
| ♥ 4 | ♥ A 9 7 3 | |
| ♦ A K J 8 7 | ♦ Q 9 5 | |
| ♣ 9 6 | ♣ Q 10 2 | |
| ♠ A K Q 5 | ||
| ♥ K Q J 10 6 | ||
| ♦ 10 | ||
| ♣ A 8 5 |