“Constant togetherness is fine – but only for Siamese twins.” Victoria Billings

Today’s deal comes from a monthly par contest in the United Kingdom, prepared and overseen by the Sharples twins, Bob and Jim, who represented England in the 1950s.

On par deals, points are gained by bidding to the right contract; then the opening lead is directed, and further points are available for the play.

Here, four spades was the prescribed contract, and West was directed to lead the diamond queen.

The defense took the first two tricks, then got credit for leading a third diamond, ruffed low in dummy.

Dummy’s king of trumps came next, and the fall of East’s 10 should have hoisted danger signals.

What should declarer do now?

If the spades break 4-1, there could well be problems in reaching the South hand to draw trumps.

Say that you play ace, king and another club, which you ruff low in hand.

West overruffs and leads a heart, locking you firmly in dummy once again.

You optimistically cash a second top heart and lead a third, ruffing in hand.

But again West overruffs, setting the contract.

The solution is simple, once you see it.

Cash two top clubs, then two top hearts (the Dentist’s Coup), stripping the South hand of all cards outside the trump suit.

Now exit dummy with a club or a heart and ruff low.

What can West do?

If he overruffs, it is with a natural trump trick, and any return can be taken in hand by declarer, who then will draw trumps.

Bid with the aces

South holds:

Answer: Support your partner with a call of three diamonds.

You can always get to no-trump on the next round, but in the meantime your excellent diamond support should not be kept hidden.