26th August 2020

A deal from an online match.
Dealer E Love All.

S K9
H AK3
D J96432
C AK
   


   
S 3
H 1086
D A105
C Q109852

South
West
North
East



2S
Pass 4S Double Pass
5C Pass Pass Pass

After East's opening weak two spades you reach five clubs on the above auction.
West leads the diamond king which you win and cash the top clubs in dummy with everyone following. 

What now?


Solution

You need to get back to hand to draw the last trump.  If the diamonds break three-one you are in danger of losing a diamond and a diamond ruff.
With no direct entry back to hand you should play the spade king then, if the player with the spade ace also has a singleton diamond, the defence cannot get their diamond ruff.



The full deal was

Dealer East
S
K9
   
Love All
H
AK3
   
    D J96432
   
    C AK
   
S
A852
    S
QJ10764
H
QJ742
    H
95
D
K
    D
Q87
C
J73
    C
64
    S
3
   
    H
1086
   
    D
A105
   
    C
Q109852
   



Thanks to Neil Thomas for reporting this deal