Collins Bridge Club
Release 2.19r
Irish Bridge Journal

Autumn 2026

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Defence

You are WEST. You lead the ♠K: ♠6, ♠8, and ♠A. Are you ready when declarer leads a low heart?

Thanks to: Mr Bridge and Julian Pottage, Bridge Magazine.

Since you hold the ♥A as well as the ♥10, you know declarer has no guess and so you can, in fact, take your time.

Can you see the advantage in taking the ♥A at once? Partner's ♠8 looks like the top of a doubleton (or possibly a singleton). You want to play the ♠Q and a third round of spades while partner has a trump left. Declarer now has to overruff rather than discard a loser. This might beat the contract (as here) or save an overtrick, depending on the precise layout.

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