Odd number of cards out against us suits break well, even number of cards against us suits break badly. How can we use this vital information on this hand ?

For the contract to make, trumps will need to break 3:2 (odds break well) and our other main suit to establish is the Diamonds and that will also need to break no worse than 4:3 (odds breaking well again).

We will therefore have to take two Diamond ruffs in dummy, the short hand  and also get back to hand safely to draw the outstanding trumps. As we have less clubs than Spades it looks like ruffing clubs will be the safer option.

After winning the first trick, pitching a Spade, we draw one top trump leaving dummy with two more for the Diamond ruffs. We now play Ace of Diamonds followed by a Diamond ruff (we can enjoy the King later). We now return to hand via a Club ruff to take one more Diamond ruff relieved to see everybody follow suit. We now ruff another club to get back to hand in order to draw the Last two trumps and claim our contract by way of 2 Spades, 3 Natural trumps, 2 natural Diamonds, 1 club, 1 established Diamond and 4 ruffs.

(NB 5NT is Grand Slam Force (Josephine) telling partner to bid 7 of agreed suit with two of top three trump honours J)

You can also view  watch the following movie to see how the hand pans out. (You need bridgvu.exe programme  or BridgeBase programme on your machine already to view it ) and it is available free from

http://www.haroldschogger.com/videos.htm