TODAY’S hand is a bit of a tester in two ways — it is a difficult one to solve, which is a test in itself and it may also test your memory as I have had it in this column before. And to cap it all, there is a surprise problem after you solve the main question: How does declarer make the hand?

E/W Vulnerable

Dealer WestNorth

[spade]J 8 6 3 2

[heart]5 4

[diamond]6 5 2

[club]8 5 2

South

[spade]A K Q 9 7

[heart]A 3

[diamond]A 9 3

[club]A K 9With East-West vulnerable the bidding was over quite quickly:West North East South

4[heart] Pass Pass 4[spade]

Pass Pass PassWest leads the king of hearts and while you are contemplating some sort of minor suit endplay against East, you play low from dummy and East ruffs! Over to you — can the hand be made?! Think about it while I show you all four hands.North

[spade]J 8 6 3 2

[heart]5 4

[diamond]6 5 2

[club]8 5 2

West East

[spade]4 [spade]10 5

[heart]K Q J 10 9 8 7 6 2 [heart]None

[diamond]7 4 [diamond]K Q J 10 8

[club]10 [club]Q J 7 6 4 3

South

[spade]A K Q 9 7

[heart]A 3

[diamond]A 9 3

[club]A K 9See it? Ok — start by ditching the ace of hearts on the ruff! Now win any return, draw trumps, cash the three minor suit winners and exit with a heart. West wins and plays another heart — don’t ruff! Throw a club from dummy and a diamond from hand.

Now when West leads another heart ruff in dummy throwing your last diamond. Now you can ruff your losing club in dummy and magically ten tricks are yours — you started with four losers, threw away an ace and ended up with three losers!

All thanks to the very rare double ruff and discard. Now, the last question — can the defence beat you? Yes! But only if West is really good!

West must preserve the precious two hearts and when you try giving her a cheap trick, she refuses by playing the two and forcing your five of hearts to win the trick!

Now there is no way to make the hand.