5th Dec 2018

Board 21 session 1 Tollemache qualifier Nov 2018.
Dealer E E-W vulnerable.

S AKJ73
H A10842
D A
C A4
   


   
S Q5
H 765
D Q9753
C 1076

South
West
North
East



Pass
Pass
1D 2D Pass
2H Pass 3D Pass
3H Pass
4H Double
Pass
Pass
Pass


North showed the majors after West had opened one diamond and then drove to game with his powerful hand.  East indicated that the contract might not make.
How do you play on the lead of a small club?

Solution

The double suggests that the trumps are not breaking and that you have three trumps to lose.  The defenders are also threatening to take a club trick.
You need to find East with four spades along with his four trumps.  Cash the ace of hearts and then play spades throwing your club losers, then ruff a club.

The full deal was
Dealer East
S
AKJ73
   
E-W Vul
H
A10842
   
    D A
   
    C A4
   
S
42
    S
10986
H
K
    H
QJ93
D
KJ642
    D
108
C
KJ982
    C
Q53
    S
Q5
   
    H
765
   
    D
Q9753
   
    C
1076
   

Thanks to John Holland for reporting this deal