BRIDGE

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xA K 7 4

uA 10 9 8

v8

wJ 10 9 8

WEST EAST

x3 2 xQ J 10 9 8 6 5

uK 7 6 5 uVoid

vK Q J 10 9 6 4 vVoid

wVoid w7 6 5 4 3 2

SOUTH

xVoid

uQ J 4 3 2

vA 7 5 3 2

wA K Q

Opening lead: King of v

We first came across this problem some 60 years ago. Since then, it has appeared in columns or magazines in one form or another with some regularity and we get more mail about this hand than any other, so here it is again.

The contract is seven hearts, and West attacks with the king of diamonds. Proceed with the play.

You win the opening lead with the ace, lead a trump to the eight and East discards the queen of spades. So East has 13 black cards and a simple hand becomes a problem because your high clubs might not be entries.

Come to hand with a spade ruffed high, repeat the trump finesse and ruff another spade high. Take another trump finesse and cash the ace of hearts and ace-king of spades, discarding your three master clubs from hand. That frees you to cash dummy’s four clubs as the last four tricks. You score four trump tricks, two spades and four clubs in dummy and the ace of diamonds and two spade ruffs in hand — 13 tricks in all!

2009 Tribune Media Services