Winning in bridge involves not only playing well but recognizing when you get a gift from the opponents. The following deal, adapted from an OK Bridge problem, is instructive. South is dealing with no one vulnerable. Please cover the East-West hands during the bidding and play:

 

                            NORTH
                          ♠️ K J 7 2
                          ♥️ K Q 10 5
                           ♦️ 9 3
                           ♣️ 10 7 3

    WEST                                    EAST
    ♠️ 9 8 4                                ♠️ 3
    ♥️ J 7 4 3                            ♥️ 9 8 6
    ♦️ A 8 5                              ♦️ K 10 7 6 2
    ♣️ A 5 2                              ♣️ K 9 6 4

                         SOUTH
                         ♠️ A Q 10 6 5
                         ♥️ A 2
                         ♦️ Q J 4
                        ♣️ Q J 8

 

The bidding proceeded as follows:

South           West          North          East

1NT              Pass           2♣️             Pass

 2♠️             Pass           4♠️           All Pass

Opening lead: ♥️ 3

I’m in favor of opening 1NT with a five-card major. If South had opened 1♠️ and North replied 1NT, South would have had to rebid a three-card suit. Better — and more pre-emptive — to show your strength right off. (Not everyone agrees.)

But I digress. After the contract, West led the ♥️3. What should declarer do? You are the critical point of the problem.

South routinely played the ♥️5, covered by the ♥️9 and the ♥️A. Even with three heart tricks, there was no way to avoid two losers in each minor suit.

O.K., so where was the gift from East-West? South might have assumed that West had led from the ♥️J. Therefore, South should put up the ♥️10 at Trick One. Now, with four heart tricks guaranteed, declarer can reduce minor-suit losses to three.

Despite the mistake at Trick One, South can rescue the contract. Draw trump, ending in the South hand, then play a heart to the 10. It’s risky, but there’s no alternative.

Now you can look at all four hands!