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Both vulnerable. West deals.

NORTH

xA K 9 4 2

uA 3

vA 6 5

wA 7 3

WEST EAST

x6 3 x10

uQ J 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 uVoid

vK vQ J 10 9 8 4

w2 wQ J 10 9 6 5

SOUTH

xQ J 8 7 5

uK 2

v7 3 2

wK 8 4

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

4u Dbl Pass 4x

Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Queen of u

When first we came to the U.S.A., we were shown this deal. To us, it looked like a double-dummy problem. But several upstanding citizens insisted it was played in a tournament in 1938. So, tongue in cheek, here it is.

West led the queen of hearts, covered by dummy’s ace and ruffed by East. With nine of West’s cards known, declarer needed an endplay to get rid of one of his losers and, after some thought he found a way.

The king of hearts was jettisoned at the first trick. East shifted to the queen of diamonds, won with the ace. Two rounds of trumps were drawn and, when West followed to the king of clubs, the hand was an open book.

Declarer exited with a heart, which West was forced to win. With no other suit left in hand, West returned a heart, declarer discarding dummy’s club loser and a losing diamond from hand. West could only continue with a heart, which declarer ruffed in dummy while discarding his remaining diamond loser from hand.

Four spades bid and made. We don’t mind if anyone who knows who declared this hand lets us know, but don’t ask us who done it!

2011 Tribune Media Services