Puzzle This

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North
♠ K J 3
♥ 8 7 3
♦ A Q
♣ A Q 5 3 2
South
♠ Q 10 9 8 7 6 5
♥ A K
♦ K
♣ K 7 4
West North East South
4♥ 4♠
Pass 6♠ All Pass

As South, you are declarer in 6♠. West leads the ♥6, and you win the ace. What next?

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

If you tried to draw trumps at trick two, your score is minus 100 for down one: East will win the ♠A and give his partner a heart ruff. Is there any way to avoid this?

Yes. Because East’s 4♥ preempt tells you that West is very short in hearts, you must get rid of your other heart (even though it’s high) before getting to work on trumps. Play the ♦K at trick two, therefore, and overtake with the ace. Then dump the ♥K on the ♦Q. With the threat of the heart ruff eliminated, you can safely go about drawing trumps next.