Buenos Aires, 23 de Septiembre de 2015
For over 40 years the Argentine Bridge Association (ABA) edited a bimonthly magazine, with articles from the best bridge masters of the time: Charles Goren, Terence, Reese, Ian Wohlin, George S. Coffin, Pierre Albarrán among others.
Not to mention the articles of the Grand Masters from Argentina as: Ricardo Argerich, Carlos Cabanne, Egisto Rocchi, Marcelo Lerner, Carlos Herrera, Arturo Jacques, Eugenio Frias Bunge, Adolfo Madala and more!!!
March / April 1958 page 46, I extracted the following problem:
 A 4 A Q J 7 4 7 6 2 6 5 2 |
| K 10 5 2 8 2 A K 5 A K 8 4 |
South opened 1NT and after a heart transfer by North, he finished as a 3NT declarer.
Lead: 3
What is your plan for 9 tricks?
Follow the arrow to find the solution
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The declarer must win the lead!, to prevent the defense to attack clubs with a trick under their belt.
The declarer can afford losing four tricks, two diamonds and two hearts; his plan should be to ensure communication between the dummy and your hand.
If declarer after winning the diamond lead starts playing a heart to the Q, he risks East having K 10 x x, plays low. East giving this trick condemns the contract since declarer only will make two heart tricks.
The solution to this communication problem is to play a small heart from both hands at trick two.
East wins the trick and plays a diamond, now if South holds up, he can win the fourth trick and play a heart to the Q ensuring three tricks of heart and making his 9 promised tricks.
The four hands were:
| A 4 A Q J 7 4 7 6 2 6 5 2 |
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| J 9 7 5 3 Q 10 8 3 Q 9 7 3 |
Q 8 6 3 K 10 9 6 J 9 4 J 10 |
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| K 10 5 2 8 2 A K 5 A K 8 4 |