Tough Bidding And Tough Defence

Pages: Page 6 of 6

Dealer: West
Vuln: Love All
Scoring: IMPs
  1. spadeK Q
  2. heart10 9
  3. diamondA K Q J 6 5
  4. clubA Q 7
  1. spade10 2
  2. heartQ 7 6 5
  3. diamond9 7 4 3
  4. clubJ 5 2
club diamond heart spade NT
N - 2 - 2 1
S - 2 - 2 1
E - - 1 - -
W - - 1 - -
Green square in centre
  1. spadeA J 3
  2. heartA K 8 4
  3. diamond10 8
  4. clubK 6 4 3

Contract: 4spade
Declarer: South
Lead: diamond7
  1. spade9 8 7 6 5 4
  2. heartJ 3 2
  3. diamond2
  4. club10 9 8
Double dummy analyser: makeable contracts
West North East South
Pass 2NT* Pass 3spade
Pass 3NT Pass 4spade
Pass Pass Pass

* 21-22

The key to the solution is to realise that you need a club trick and that can only be established by a lead from partner. The only possible way to his hand is via a heart and, having noted partner's helpful diamond9, you must lead heart4 to partner's queen. Partner will need to take his second chance and switch to a club, judging that you have not led low from heartA84 - when declarer might have used Stayman with heartKJ32. Not an easy defence to find after such a disadvantageous lead!
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