Answer: Bridge Problem 6

 

North
♠KQJ2
♥J4
♦AJ8
♣QJ73

 

West
♠97
♥5
♦Q4
♣AK1086542

 

East
♠A8
♥KQ9762
♦K653
♣9

 

South
♠106543
♥A1083
♦10972
♣–

 

Dealer: North
Vul: Both
N E S W
1NT¹ P 2♣ 4♣
DBL P 4♠ P
P DBL P P
P      
¹ 15-17 HCP

The contract can be defeated with the lead of the ♦4. If declarer plays the ♦A and plays trump, East will win the ace of spades and play a diamond to the queen and West will return a heart. South must win (or else West will ruff the next heart for the setting trick), but then there is no way to avoid two more losers, a heart and a diamond.

If declarer ducks the opening lead, East wins the ♦K and plays the ♥K. South must win (or else another heart gets ruffed by West and the trump ace is the setting trick), but East, when in with the trump ace, cashes the ♥Q, with West throwing the ♦Q, and then West ruffs a diamond for the setting trick.

Note that if the opening lead is the ♦Q, declarer will win the ace and play trump. East can take the ace, cash the ♦K and play another diamond for West to ruff, but declarer can then pitch a heart on the fourth diamond and cross ruff the rest to come to ten tricks.

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