A764
                                          1074
                                          A3
                                          AQ104
        KJ9                                                          1082
        9853                                                         A2
        KQ92                                                       J108754
        87                                                            J6

                                         Q53
                                         KQJ6
                                         6
                                         K9532

Bidding commentary:  For openers, you are in a pretty good contract!  3N has no play with a diamond lead and 5C depends upon the location of the spade K.  In general, go out of your way to play in a 4-3 trump fit only when (a) the four card suit is headed by at least three honours; and (b) any short suit is in the dummy.

In this case, only one of the two requirements are fulfilled, which means trouble may be looming.  You are in deep trouble if one of the opponents has Axxx of hearts.  If you start to draw trumps, that opponent will win the third round of hearts and then force out your last trump by playing a diamond.  Your best bet is to hope the hearts are 3-3 or someone has to, or will take the ace of hearts earlier.  Win the diamond ace and play heart 10.  If it holds, play a second heart.  as it happens, East must win and will surely play a diamond. You can counteract this by discarding a spade.  Any further diamond play can now be trumped in dummy, so East will probably shift to a spade.  Now you are in control; win the spade ace, draw the remaining two trumps and run the clubs for ten tricks.

Long live 4-3 fits!!
 
 

Clive Keep August  2003