Double Dummy Problem

The Problem:

Today’s problem was created, as you might guess from its name, by one of Britain’s top players of the last quarter century or so, Tony Forrester.

The Forrester
	ª A K Q © 9 8 7 6 ¨ K 2 § 10 9 8 7
ª 8 7 6 © Q J 10 ¨ Q 9 7 § K J 4 3		ª 5 4 3 2 © 5 4 3 ¨ A § A Q 6 5 2
	ª J 10 9 © A K 2 ¨ J 10 8 6 5 4 3 § -

Contract: 5¨
Lead: §3

The Solution:

To make 5¨, declarer must execute that very rare bird indeed, the smother play. I should say that I have brought this play off only once in all my years of playing bridge and Tony Forrester himself confessed to having never done so when we were chatting a few years ago.

Anyway, the play should go as follows: Ruff the club lead and cross to each of the three top spades in turn to ruff the three remaining clubs. Now cash the top hearts, leaving:

	ª - © 9 8 ¨ K 2 § -
ª - © Q ¨ Q 9 7 § -		ª 5 © 5 ¨ A § Q
	ª - © 2 ¨ J 10 8 § -

Declarer exits with the low heart and West is forced to lead a diamond. Dummy plays low and the bare ace wins, leaving East to lead a black card at trick twelve. Declarer ruffs with the ten or jack, and West is caught. If he over-ruffs then so does dummy, while if he under-ruffs dummy discards and has the ¨K for the last trick.