“DISCARDING COMMANDING CARDS”
It is the first game, score love all. Z deals and passes the make. Y declares “no-trump.”
| ♠ A Q 5 3 2 | |||
| ♣ Q J 10 | |||
| ♦ A K | |||
| ♥ A 3 2 | |||
| ♠ K J 9 7 |  | ♠ 10 8 | |
| ♣ 4 3 2 | ♣ K 5 | ||
| ♦ 5 4 2 | ♦ 10 9 8 6 | ||
| ♥ K 8 4 | ♥ Q J 10 9 6 | ||
| ♠ 6 4 | |||
| ♣ A 9 8 7 6 | |||
| ♦ Q J 7 3 | |||
| ♥ 7 5 | |||
| TRICK | A | Y | B | Z |
| 1 | 7♠ | A♠ | 8♠ | 4♠ |
| 2 | 2♦ | A♦ | 6♦ | 3♦ |
| 3 | 4♦ | K♦ | 8♦ | 7♦ |
| 4 | 2♣ | Q♣ | K♣ | A♣ |
| 5 | 5♦ | 10♣ | 9♦ | Q♦ |
| 6 | 3♣ | J♣ | 10♦ | J♦ |
| 7 | 4♣ | 2♥ | 5♣ | 9♣ |
| 8 | 4♥ | 2♠ | 6♥ | 8♣ |
| 9 | 9♠ | 3♠ | 9♥ | 7♣ |
| 10 | J♠ | 3♥ | 10♠ | 6♣ |
| 11 | K♠ | 5♠ | 10♥ | 6♠ |
| 12 | 8♥ | A♥ | J♥ | 5♥ |
| 13 | K♥ | Q♠ | Q♥ | 7♥ |
The dealer makes a small slam.
ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 38
Trick 1.—The jack of clubs must be played to the first trick, for otherwise the club suit would be blocked, and it is useless to lead through A’s hand. B’s best discard is a spade. As A’s lead indicates a four-card suit, B can count Z with six clubs.
Trick 2.—A cannot afford to win this trick, for if Z has an entry card the clubs will be made. B should not shorten his diamonds or hearts as Y has four cards of each. He cannot lose by discarding an honour in spades. The queen gives A information, and if necessary enables B to unblock.
Trick 4.—A’s lead may be from four spades; B must keep the low spade.
Trick 6.—B can now count all the cards in both A’s and Z’s hands. A has shown four spades, four clubs, and is marked with the queen of diamonds alone; he must, therefore, have three hearts. Z has three remaining clubs, two diamonds, one spade, and two hearts. B unblocks the spade suit.