NEIL HAYWARD BRIDGE

WEST

♠ 932

♥ A 8 6 5 3 ♦ J9

♣ 976

NORTH

♠ 8 5 4 ♥ J T 9 ♦ T 7 5 2 ♣ A4 2

SOUTH

♠ AQJ T ♥ Q 4

♦ AK 8 4 ♣ K QJ

EAST

♠ K 7 6 ♥ K 7 2

♦ Q6 3 ♣ T 8 5 3

Contract: 3NT by South

Opening Lead: ♥5. East plays the ♥K. What are your plans?

Recommended Line: If you are playing against competent defenders, and the heart suit is breaking 5-3, they will allow your ♥Q to win the second heart trick. Now, if either defender gets in, they win that trick plus a total of four heart tricks. However, this clever ducking play will not be available to them if you get your ♥Q on the table at trick one. The defenders cannot prevent you from winning your one heart trick in dummy, not in hand. That allows you to finesse in spades, cross to the ♣A, and repeat the spade finesse. It is fortunate that the ♠K is on your right, but your clever play at trick one has earned you that good fortune. If your opponents are grumpy types, they will not agree with that. But, do you care?