S/All		♠	A 7 6 2
		♥	A 5 2
		♦	K
		♣	J 10 5 4 2
		♠	K 8 5 3
		♥	8 6
		♦	A Q 2
		♣	K Q 7 3

After west's weak 2♥ overcall NS end up in 4♠.
West leads ♥K.
If trumps are 3-2 this contract is a piece of cake. Can south handle it with trumps 4-1?

This page usually contains a piece of theory, in this case about 'trump management', including an example.
Three exercises will follow, one in each of the next three weeks.

Managing the trump suit is a trade in itself. Bridge novices are being taught the rule 'draw trumps as soon as possible when you are declarer.' Experienced players know there are many exceptions to that rule.
In this article we examine the case in which declarer is in danger of losing trump control and what to do about it.

E/NS		♠	Q J 8 4
		♥	A Q 2
		♦	A J 10
		♣	9 3 2
		♠	A K 7
		♥	7 6 5
		♦	9 8 5
		♣	Q J 10 7

¹ 9-12 points (since with a suitable distribution north can double from 8 points!)

Instead of doubling north could have bid 1NT as well; fourth in hand this shows 11-14 points, a club guard is not (!) necessary. NS then would have reached 3NT only if south had stretched a little by raising to 2NT. North then of course would have bid game.

West leads ♣6 to east's ♣K. East returns ♠6. South wins with ♠A and returns ♣V. East wins with ♣A (west ♣5) and plays a club back for south's ♣10, west discarding a spade.
How should south continue?