Bridge Problem 7: Answer

 

North
K
AQ
AKQJ
986543
 

West
984
6432
964
KJ10
 

East
76532
K75
1083
Q7
 

South
AQJ10
J1098
752
A2
 

Dealer: East
Vul: East-West
E S W N
P 1NT¹ P 6NT
P P P  
¹ Weak, 12-14 HCP.
Opening lead: 9
 

The contract can be guaranteed by winning the ace of spades and cashing two more spade winners, throwing the ace and the queen of hearts. Then play hearts. The defenders can take the king, but declarer has the ace of clubs as an entry back to the rest of the hearts and the last spade. Thus, declarer will score four spades, three hearts, four diamonds and a club.

If instead declarer tries to finesse in hearts at trick two, the defenders can prevail by allowing the queen to hold. If declarer plays ace and queen of hearts, again the defenders can refuse to take the king, preventing declarer from being getting a third heart trick. Note that declarer must not cash all four spade honors before playing hearts in case the spades don't break.

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