Double Dummy Problem

The Problem:

The Pot Boiler

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

Contract: 7]
Lead: }K

The Solution:

Declarer must win the ace of clubs, throwing a diamond from dummy, cross to the ace of hearts and ruff a spade. A second heart to dummy is followed by a second spade ruff. Now declarer leads a trump to dummy and cashes all the remaining trumps plus the ace of spades.

The key play is that on the fourth trump and [A declarer throws the ace and king of diamonds from hand, leaving him able to cash all of dummy’s diamonds.