 J 7 4
 5 3
 A 10 7 3
 10 9 6 3 |
| A 10 3
A K 2
Q J 8
A Q J 7 |
| West | North | East | South |
| Pass | 2NT | ||
| Pass | 3NT | Pass | Pass |
| Pass |
7.
Declarer needed to win at least six tricks in the minor suits to make his contract. After calling for a low heart from dummy, declarer took East’s jack of hearts with the king because he did not want a spade shift at trick two (a wise move, since a diabolical – but perhaps double-dummy – shift to the queen of spades at trick two would have seen the contract fail).
Declarer took the view that West was likely to be the danger hand with long hearts. So he cashed the ace of clubs and continued with the queen. After winning the trick with the king, West continued with the queen of hearts. Declarer let this hold as East followed with the nine.
Declarer won the heart continuation, throwing a low spade from dummy. Declarer continued with the queen of diamonds and ran it once West followed with a low card. East took the trick with the king of diamonds and exited with a spade. Declarer rose with the ace and claimed nine tricks: one spade, two hearts and the required six tricks in the minors. Note that declarer would still have made his contract if hearts had been four-four. All he would have lost would have been two hearts and the two minor-suit kings.
The complete deal:
| J 7 4
5 3
A 10 7 3
10 9 6 3 |
||
| K 9 8 5
Q 10 8 7 4
9 5
K 2 |
Q 6 2
J 9 6
K 6 4 2
8 5 4 |
|
| A 10 3
A K 2
Q J 8
A Q J 7 |
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