Bridge Column for August 14, 1994 
Both sides vulnerable.  South deals.
                              NORTH
                              S: A Q J 3 2        
                              H: Q 8 5 3     
                              D: V o i d     
                              C: K 6 4 2 
            WEST                             EAST
            S: 7 6 4                         S: K 9 8 5      
            H: K 6 4                         H: A J 10 2   
            D: K 9 4 3 2                     D: A J 7 6           
            C: A 3                           C: 5           
                              SOUTH                         
                              S: 10   
                              H: 9 7          
                              D: Q 10 8 5 
                              C: Q J 10 9 8 7 
                  SOUTH    WEST    NORTH    EAST                  
                   Pass    Pass      1S     Pass
                   1NT     Pass      2H     Pass
                   3C      Pass      4D     Pass
                   5C      Pass     Pass    Dbl 
                   (All Pass)
     This hand was played in a qualifying session for the Danish
national championships and was reported by Ib Lundby of Denmark. 
North's jump to four diamonds was a splinter bid.  It set the
trump suit as clubs and showed a diamond singleton or void. 
While North has a nice hand, I vote for a solid pass after
South's three club bid.  Of course, if that were the case, there
wouldn't be a story to tell.  
     This contract appears impossible, but let's follow the play. 
The opening lead was the three of diamonds, ruffed in dummy.  The
ace of spades was cashed followed by the queen of spades.  East
covered and South ruffed.  A diamond was ruffed in dummy and a
heart was discarded on the jack of spades.  South now ruffed the
two of spades.  As it was meaningless for West to over-ruff, he
discarded a heart.
     Another diamond was ruffed in dummy.  South called for the
three of spades.  East ruffed with the five of clubs and South
discarded his last heart.  At this point, the impossible contract
was made.  The only other trick available for the defense was the
ace of clubs.
     Look at what happens if East discards on the last spade. 
South will discard the heart and West will ruff with the three of
clubs.  Now the ace of clubs will extract the last trump from the
North hand, allowing the defense to score a diamond trick for
down one.  Yes, West could have over-ruffed the five of clubs
with the ace to lead the three of clubs, but the diamond trick
that is gained is the second and last defensive trick.  
     Should East have been able to figure out the problem and
therefore not trump the last spade?  It's not easy, nor is it
clear cut, but East knows that South and West are also out of
spades, so ruffing is truly a futile effort.  It is much better
to play the ten of hearts in an attempt to let partner know where
the ace is, and of course, to defeat the doubled contract.