Playing with your chiropractor at rubber bridge, what is your call?

 South
   -
   -
   -
   -

Vul against not, a 3-bid must be a decent suit. A slam looks
good if partner's suit is semi-solid. A jump to 5H will ask for
good trumps for six.

Your partner bids six, but when you put your dummy down,
his beeper suddenly comes on -- an emergency phone
call -- and you have to play it. You try to compose yourself
as you see his heart suit! East follows with the 3 of clubs
on the queen. The doctor wishes you good luck and departs.

What is your plan?

 South You
   7 3
   A Q 9 5 4 3 2
   Q
   8 7 6

It looks hopeless and you plan to have a word or two with
the good doctor upon his return. You lean back, because
he doesn't like it when you lean forward, and think.

Is there any trump holding that allows you to lead trumps
and lose only one trump trick? You close your eyes and
dream....

 South You
   7 3
   A Q 9 5 4 3 2
   Q
   8 7 6

Well, if you came down to this four-card ending, and West
holds the K-J or K-10, you could lead the ace and 5, and
then you take the last two tricks.

 South You
   A Q 9 5

You open your eyes. Against your doctor's advice you
suddenly lean forward, cashing the ace of diamonds and
ruffing a diamond.

You lead a club to the king and ruff another diamond. Lead
a spade to the king and ruff another diamond. They are
4-4-4-1 around the table.

Good. The position is now....

 South You
   7 3
   A Q 9 5 4 3 2
   Q
   8 7 6

Aggh! Pain shoots through your neck. Oh no! You've blown it!
You were supposed to be in your hand at this point without that
7 of spades or 8 of clubs. You forgot to cash those black winners!

Can you recover? Think! You lead to the ace of spades.

Now what?

 South You
   7
   A Q 9 5
   -
   8

You're about to cash the ace of clubs, but you realize it will
be hopeless. You'll be in the wrong hand for your dream
endplay.

Suddenly you see a different possibility. You ruff a spade
with the 5 of hearts and spades break 3-3. Then you lead
a club to the ace and they break 3-3 as well!

 South You
   -
   A Q 9 5
   -
   8

Your doctor returns and sits down in the dummy's chair. You
tell him to play any card he likes! "What's the matter?" he
asks. "Can't you reach over and play the cards yourself?"

You shake your head, no, but you can claim, dropping your
A-Q-9 on the table, covering whatever card East plays.

 South You
   -
   A Q 9
   -
   -

THE FULL DEAL

THE END.

 South You
   7 3
   A Q 9 5 4 3 2
   Q
   8 7 6

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