14th June 2017
Online bridge has its advantages and disadvantages, however the actual deals are as challenging as in real life.
Try your hand at this problem from a game on Bridge Base Online.

Dealer E Love All.

S 1075
H AQJ75
D 10
C J943
   


   
S A942
H 8
D 932
C AK1075

South
 West
 North
 East



Pass
1C 2NT(1)
 3C 3D
3S Pass
 5C Pass
Pass
 Pass


(1) 5-5 or more in the red suits.

West leads the diamond king, overtaken by East with the ace, who then returns a low spade.
Can you find a plausible layout to make this contract?

Solution

Take the ace of spades, cash the club ace, dropping West's queen, then play a heart to the queen, cash the heart ace throwing a spade and then cross ruff  hearts and diamonds to reach the following ending.


 S
 107
    

H
   
    D
   
    C J
    
S
 K
     S
H
    H
D
 QJ
     D
 8
C
    C
 86
    S
 94
    
    H
   
    D
   
    C
 K
    

South exits with a spade and the defenders have no answer.  If West wins he must concede a ruff and discard, if East trumps West's spade then she can either concede a ruff and discard or play a trump, but then South wins the last two tricks.
The full deal was


 S
 1075
    

H
 AQJ75
    
    D 10
    
    C J943
    
S
 KQ
     S
 J863
H
 K10962
     H
 43
D
 KQJ64
     D
 A875
C
 Q
     C
 862
    S
 A942
    
    H
 8
    
    D
 932
    
    C
 AK1075
    
Thanks to David Barton for reporting this deal