FOLLOW THE RULE BRIDGE PUZZLE

Both vulnerable. South deals.

Opening lead: King of

♠

Hard Luck Louie thought that a good board at the end might win the club’s Saturday night duplicate. He was South in today’s deal and bid very aggressively to a good slam. He won the opening spade lead in hand perforce and saw that he only needed a club ruff in dummy to make his contract.

Louie led a club to dummy’s king at trick two and then a club back to his ace. A third round of clubs went to East’s 10 as West discarded the king of hearts. The ensuing heart shift by East saw West ruff for down one. “I hate my life,” said Louie. “I bid to a great slam and go down on a 6-1 split. Yeesh!”

Lucky Larry had played the hand earlier in the evening. He also declared six diamonds with the same opening lead. Larry recognized this deal as a variation on a cross-ruff, which is a well-known declarer-play technique. The first rule of a cross-ruff is to cash any winners in the side suits first. Following this rule, Larry led a heart to dummy’s ace at trick two. He then continued with the king of clubs and a club to his ace.

A third club to East’s 10 saw West discard a spade. East shifted to a heart, but Larry ruffed with his 10 of diamonds as West shed another spade. The lead of Larry’s last club gave West no winning option and the slam succeeded.