South dealer. North/South vulnerable.
Opening lead—king of clubs.
Trump management is sometimes a trickish affair. To lose control of trumps is often fatal and that is why in so many hands the defenders force declarer to ruff a suit. There was nothing extraordinary in West’s defense on this hand. In fact, it was quite routine. He led three rounds of clubs and South trumped the third one. Declarer decided not to bother with a heart finesse, he led the ace of trumps and continued with the jack West now in the driver’s seat ducked — East showing out. Too late South realized that he was in hot water. He could no longer make the contract.
West with two tricks in the bag and the king of hearts already established, was bound to take still another trick. His seven of hearts was a thorn in declarer’s side which could not be removed.
If declarer continued with the ten of hearts denuding himself of trumps and leaving dummy with the queen, West would take the king and play the eight of clubs. If dummy ruffed, West’s seven of hearts and six of clubs would both be tricks and South would go down two. This same result would follow if dummy did not ruff the club. A continuation would also produce a two trick set.
But more careful play by declarer would have brought home the contract. After ruffing the club at trick three, South should have taken steps to guard against a 4-1 trump break. This he could have done by leading the jack, not the ace of hearts, at trick four. If West takes the king, he has no effective defense available.
If West refuses the jack, South continues with the ten. Again West is helpless, wether he takes the trick or not. If West also ducks the ten, South cashes the ace and keeps leading winners until West eventually makes the king of hearts.
Keeping control of trumps does the job regardless of how West elects to defend.