Contract is 3NT
West leads the 
6
against 3NT. What is the best chance of making nine tricks?
Suppose you win with the spade ace and attack your longest suit, playing
a diamond. The defenders will win and play another spade, removing
your last protection in the suit. Hopeless, isn’t it? If you
play another diamond you will set up enough tricks for the contract
but the opponents will beat you to the tape, cashing three spades
and two diamonds.
How should you play the contract? You start with seven top tricks.
No more arc available from the majors and we have just seen what will
happen 11 you play on diamonds. The extra two tricks you need will
have to come from the club suit. You will need West to hold the king
of clubs or clubs to divide 3-3. Cash the ace of clubs and play a
low club to dummy’s queen. If the queen wins the trick, return
to your hand with the ace of hearts and lead another club towards
dummy. When the cards lie as in our diagram, West will doubtless rise
with the king on the third round and play another spade. Since you
won the first spade trick in your hand, with the ace, dummy’s
king of spades will provide an entry to the established jack of dubs.
Nine tricks are yours.
97
QJT53
QJ43