bridge Alan Hiron

Last week I left you with a problem. How could South have made his contract of Four Spades after the lead of the seven of hearts without relying on a mistake?

North had opened One No-trump, East had overcalled with Two Hearts, and South had bid Three Spades. North had raised to game and West had led the seven of hearts against Four Spades.

I agree this is something of a double-dummy problem, but if declarer places East with the king of hearts (fair enough) and also with the king, queen and ten of diamonds, he can get home.

He wins the lead with dummy's ace, cashes the ace of clubs (the key play, removing one of East's safe exits) and draws trumps with the ace and queen. Then he leads a low diamond from the table. East wins with his queen and, as a heart lead would establish dummy's queen, gets off lead with the king of diamonds, pinning South's jack.

After winning with dummy's ace, declarer leads the nine of diamonds and, after East has covered with his ten, discards his remaining heart. East is now left on lead with the choice of conceding a ruff and discard by leading a diamond, or giving declarer his tenth trick by leading a heart. Very neat, if a little far-fetched.

Game all; dealer North

North

4 A Q J

! A Q 8

# A 9 3

2 9 8 7 6

West East

4 5 3 4 4 2

! 7 2 ! K J 10 9 6 4

# 8 6 4 2 # K Q 10 7

2 K Q J 4 3 2 2

South

4 K 10 9 8 7 6

! 5 3

# J 5

2 A 10 5