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A classic partial elimination. Note the importance of winning the first spade in dummy - necessary despite the slight possibility that East might be able to ruff the second round when West is in with A. If declarer wins A at trick one the timing is wrong for the endplay - try it out!<>br>27/05/2024 I cannot remember where this hand came from but there was an error in my original analysis. I sat looking at this deal and somehting didn't look right. So I did "try it"! What if East throws a club instead of a diamond when declarer ruffs his losing spade in dummy? He's now in a position to receive a club ruff. Even if East throws a dimsond as in the diagram, what happens even if an "end-played" West does give declarer a ruff and discard by leading a spade? North can still only make two more tricks. 4 should always be one off!

22/03/2026: The DDA corroborates the above conclusion - nine tricks are the theoretical maximum that North can achieve in 4. Better to play in 3NT!
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