Bridge Corner
By Gary Mitchell, Dec 15, 2006

The bidding

For a change, this is a nice, normal auction. 

The play

There is one thing declarer must be aware of here. He may quickly run out of trumps! He must trump the opening lead, and pull three rounds of trump. That will leave only one trump in declarer’s hand. The opponents will win a Club and lead another Heart, making it impossible for declarer to make the contract.

So, trump the Heart, lead a trump to the 10, and get after the Club suit! Play a low Club and put in the 10. When it loses and a trump is returned, win in dummy, and finesse Clubs again. Now, you have lost one Club, and you are going to lose a trick to the Diamond Ace. You can afford a trump loser, so leave that last trump out there. Run your Clubs, and knock out the Diamond Ace. You have 10 tricks. As long as you do not try to take their last trump, you will succeed. 

Questions: gary@smabridge.com 
Lessons: 152-6351.