Bridge Answer 6

Bridge Problem 6: Answer

 

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.