Kin Hubbard said, “The election is not very far off when a candidate can recognize you across the street.”

That is apropos, with the caucuses coming thick and fast. In this deal, though, South needs to get across the table. How can he do it?

South is in four hearts, and the defenders begin with two rounds of clubs.

The South hand was a tad light for a two-club opening. But after East balanced with a takeout double, it was reasonable for South to jump to four hearts. Yes, if North were short in the majors, it would have backfired badly, but such pessimism almost never works at the bridge table.

East was tempted to double for a second time with his 18-pointer, but he was worried that if partner ran to, say, five diamonds, that would turn a plus score into a minus. (Note that five diamonds will go down one, but five clubs by East is unbeatable. If East had doubled again, and West didn’t pass, he should have moved with four no-trump, which would have shown a two-suiter.)

South must hope that the spade finesse is working, so that he can collect these 10 tricks: five spades, four hearts and one diamond. But how can he get to the board to take the finesse? Only via the heart nine. Declarer must be careful to ruff the second club high and to continue with a top trump.

Suppose East wins and leads another club. South ruffs high, cashes his last top trump, overtakes the heart eight with the nine, and runs the spade 10 to get home.

Then East will ruefully regret not passing out one spade!