Problem 1

Problem 1 Solution

Problem 1 Solution

East overtakes the ♦Q with the ♦A and plays the ♦K and ♦J. What is your next play?

The problem here is that if you trump the ♦J, you will lose a trump trick if the spades break 4-2 as they do here. Either West can overruff if you trump with a small one, or the ♠9 will make a trick later. If the ♥ finesse loses as well, (♥J loses to ♥Q) then you will not make your contract. You will lose a trump, two diamonds and a heart.
What is the best play then?
You should discard a small heart on the third diamond. Now you are in control. You have lost three tricks but that is all you will lose. If East persists with diamonds, you can ruff in dummy and draw two rounds of trumps. Now cross to the ♣K  and play the last two trumps. If East plays any other suit, you can win and draw trumps and claim the rest of the tricks. This is called a loser-on-loser play.