Hand of the week, week commencing, Sunday  7th June 2026

Plan you defence against their 4♥ contract after leading your ♣3 singleton,

 won by partner's Ace who now plays back a Club.

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Dealer: East  Both Vul

In order to defeat 4♥ you and partner will have to generate 4 defensive tricks and so far you have taken the first two tricks.

In order to get another ruff, you will need to put partner in and its not going to be possible in Hearts as you can see the AQ in dummy or in Spades as you can see the top two spade honours. Therefore, your only hope seems to be in Diamonds BUT there is only only Diamond in dummy

If there is only one way to defeat a contract YOU NEED TO GO FOR IT. Here you will have to hope and pray partner has the Diamond King. If he was the one with a singleton Diamond, surely he would have immediately played back a Diamond. So with hand on heart underlead your ♦Ace and partner does indeed turn up with the King and now gives you a second Club ruff.

You have beaten this contact taking 1 Club , 2 Club ruffs and 1 Diamond for a well defended hand.