| Dlr: North | ♠ Q 6 | |
| Vul: E-W | ♥ 6 4 2 | |
| ♦ J 10 6 5 | ||
| ♣ A K Q 5 | ||
| ♠ A 4 2 | ||
| ♥ A 8 7 5 3 | ||
| ♦ A | ||
| ♣ J 8 7 6 |
| West | North | East | South |
| 1♣ | Pass | 1♥ | |
| Pass | 2♥ | Pass | 4♥ |
| All Pass |
On a plain-suit lead, you would have little trouble getting to 10 tricks, losing only a spade and two trumps. In this case, however, West starts with the ♥10. What is your plan to make your contract after that annoying lead?
Solution
East followed with the ♥J at trick one and declarer found the necessary move of playing low from hand. After winning the trump continuation with the ace, declarer cashed the ♦A, played a low club to dummy’s queen and ruffed a diamond. Dummy was re-entered with a low club to the king for a second diamond ruff. Next, a club to dummy’s ace allowed declarer to ruff a third diamond.
When declarer cashed the ♠A, he had made one trick in spades, the ♥A, three diamond
ruffs in hand, the ♦A and three clubs for a total of nine tricks. Finally, he advanced the ♣J. This would be declarer’s 10th trick. If the ♣J was ruffed, dummy’s ♥6 would be trick number 10. The full deal:
| Dlr: North | ♠ Q 6 | |
| Vul: E-W | ♥ 6 4 2 | |
| ♦ J 10 6 5 | ||
| ♣ A K Q 5 | ||
| ♠ 9 8 7 5 3 | ♠ K J 10 | |
| ♥ 10 9 | ♥ K Q J | |
| ♦ K 9 7 2 | ♦ Q 8 4 3 | |
| ♣ 9 4 | ♣ 10 3 2 | |
| ♠ A 4 2 | ||
| ♥ A 8 7 5 3 | ||
| ♦ A | ||
| ♣ J 8 7 6 |