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Another Entry Problem

K J
9 5
A 10 8 7
Q J 10 8 7
10 2
Q 6
K Q J 6 4 2
9 3
 
9 8 6 5
J 8 4
9 3
A 6 5 4
A Q 7 4 3
A K 10 7 3 2
5
K
North/South cannot make 6 NT on a diamond lead, because they only have 8 top tricks.
A 6 contract is doomed if the defense takes its club ace and eventual heart trick.
6 does not make on a diamond lead because North can set of his clubs, but cannot draw trumps and preserve an entry to run them.
The only slam to make here is 6 .
If the defense leads a diamond, it seems like they still prevail. North solves the problem, however, by ruffing one diamond, which strips East of his last diamond.
Declarer crosses to North with a spade and leads top clubs until East takes his ace, leading to this:
K
9 5
10 8
10 8 7
10
Q 6
K Q 6 4
9
 
9 8 6
J 8 4
6 5
A Q 7 4
A K 10 7
Whatever East leads here, North has the spade king entry to draw the rest of the trumps and then run the major winners.
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Thomas Andrews (thomaso@best.com), © 1999-2008.
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