Two by Four

by Sidney Lenz

Hearts are trump.  South to lead and win two tricks.

Did this one take you a bit longer that expected?  If so, I am not surprised.

The five of hearts is led.  If west grabs the king, then declarer now can win three tricks; so he ducks to partner's nine.  If east returns a trump to west's king, that sets up the dummy; so he leads a spade.  South sheds a diamond and ruffs in dummy.

Now, the club six is led.  If east pitches a spade, declarer dumps the queen of diamonds.  If west trumps that, it must be with the king, setting up declarer's queen.  If instead east ruffs the club lead, then it is overruffed by south, and west is no better off.