Ruff, ruff; the ruff is tough

A friend sent me this hand from last night’s club game, an event in which I did not play.

North ♠ Q2 ♥ JT984 ♦ KJ3 ♣ T92

South ♠ AKT95 ♥ AK75 ♦ T54 ♣ K

Your reach 4♥, via this auction:

West	North	East	South
P	P	P	1♠
P	1NT (semi-forcing)	P	2♥
P	3♥	P	4♥
All pass

The opening lead is a fifth-best ♣3. East wins the ♣A and returns the ♣4.  What is your declarer plan?

At matchpoints are you tempted toward the line to a possible twelve tricks?  If each major is good for five tricks, two club ruffs can be added for twelve tricks in total.  Just ruff the club low, draw all trumps in two rounds, lead to ♠Q, ruff the last club and then play on spades.

Should you give in to temptation?

… Not on this hand:

	North ♠ Q2 ♥ JT984 ♦ KJ3 ♣ T92
West ♠ 8763 ♥ — ♦ A876 ♣ Q7653		East ♠ J4 ♥ Q632 ♦ Q92 ♣ AJ84
	South ♠ AKT95 ♥ AK75 ♦ T54 ♣ K

The winning line is to ruff the club high.  Then lead a small heart toward dummy’s honors.

Let’s first assume that East wins the ♥Q .  No matter what he does next, you will emerge with at least four trumps plus the club ruff already taken and five spades; you will even win one more if East continues a second club.

Even if East rejects the gift of the ♥ Q, you have an answer: ruff a second club, high again, and then play your remaining small heart to dummy.

On a 18 top, +450 was 17+, +420 was 14+, -50 was 6-, and -100 was 1+ (the + and – presumably resulting from some factoring).

This is my first blog posting, so please forgive me if I have tripped up in some blog-specific way that experience will help eliminate.  Tripping up in bridge analysis, however, will probably recur.  Hope you enjoy.