In order to get better at declarer play one needs to keep a clear head and make a plan at trick one, based on the dummy that comes down, the contract, and on the opposition bidding if there was any.

This week’s slam contract offered declarer a few options, and I love that declarer did not make the obvious reflex play but thought about how she could improve her chances — always a key to success. See Figure 1.

The bidding was good. See Figure 2.

North began with a transfer to two hearts, promising at least five cards in that suit. South super-accepted the transfer by jumping to three hearts, promising four hearts and a maximum. After four cue bids, North placed the contract in the small slam. West led the ten of trumps.

Declarer saw that 12 tricks would be guaranteed if East held the King of clubs. Declarer also saw that if the club finesse lost, he would still succeed when clubs broke 3-3, thereby providing a discard for one of dummy’s diamonds, so clearly clubs had to be attacked first.

If, however, West began with the King of clubs and that suit failed to break 3-3, declarer would have to rely on the diamond finesse.

This declarer, however, found a way guard against a singleton or doubleton King of clubs with West, by preparing for an elimination. After drawing trumps in two rounds, declarer cashed the Ace of clubs then he continued with the Queen, Ace and King of spades, leaving this position (see Figure 3).

Next came a club towards his club Queen-Jack-4. If the Queen of clubs wins, declarer can return to dummy with a trump to lead a further round of clubs, still making the slam whenever East holds the club King.

On the above layout, West won the second round of clubs with his now bare King, and was endplayed. He had to lead into declarer’s diamond tenace, or play a spade conceding a ruff and discard. Either way, declarer had 12 tricks.

Brilliant play – yes there are 13 tricks available if both Kings are with East but, as you will know from the recent bridge talk, that is only a 25 per cent probability and making a slam contract that has a possibility of going down will always get you a great score. So, I would make the above play in either a teams or pairs game.

• David Ezekiel can be reached on davidezekiel999@gmail.com

BRIDGE CLUB RESULTS

Monday, April 10

1. Judith Bussell-Diana Diel

2. Gertrude Barker-Jane Smith

3. Sheena Raynor-Magda Farag

Tuesday, April 11

North/South

1. Tim Mardon-Richard Hall

2. James Fielding-Benjamin Stone

3. Sharon Andrews- Dorea Grant

East/West

1. Nikki Boyce-Carol Eastham

2. Jean Schilling-John Thorne

3. Malcolm Moseley-Mark Stevens

Wednesday, April 12

North/South

1. William Pollett-Linda Pollett

2. Tony Saunders-Molly Taussig

3. Betsy Baillie-Sharon Shanahan

East/West

1. Patricia Siddle-Diana Diel

2. Rachael Gosling-Craig Hutton

3. Judith Bussell- Peter Donnellan

Thursday, April 13

1. Claude Guay-Sharon Shanahan

2. Elizabeth McKee-Linda Pollett

3. Miodrag Novakovic-Margaret Way