A Best Shot

West led a spade, declarer ducked from dummy, and East won the ♠ K and continued the suit. Declarer then played a third round of spades, pitching his diamond loser, West ruffing.

West then tried to take his side's diamond tricks, leading the ♦ Q. Declarer covered with the ♦ K, East played the ace, and declarer ruffed.

Declarer drew two rounds of trumps, both following. With West's ruff, that accounted for all the outside trumps.

			♠ — ♥ — ♦ 10 7 4 ♣ A J 10 7
			♠ — ♥ 9 8 7 5 3 ♦ — ♣ 8 5

The declarer I was watching looked at this situation and did not see his chance for an overtrick. Instead, he just lead a club to dummy. He got lucky. West, holding the ♣ K-Q, failed to split her honors, and declarer made 11 tricks.

But wait, if West has the ♣ K-Q, why play for her to misdefend? Instead, play her for the ♦ J. On the run of the hearts, the situation is:

			♠ — ♥ — ♦ 10 ♣ A J
♠ — ♥ — ♦ J ♣ K Q
			♠ — ♥ 3 ♦ — ♣ 8 5

On the last heart, West must give up in one of the minors.

The full deal was:

			♠ A Q J ♥ — ♦ K 10 7 6 4 ♣ A J 10 7 6
♠ 8 6 ♥ Q J 6 ♦ Q J 9 3 ♣ K Q 4 3						♠ K 10 9 7 5 3 ♥ 10 4 ♦ A 8 2 ♣ 9 2
			♠ 4 2 ♥ A K 9 8 7 5 3 2 ♦ 5 ♣ 8 5

Note that this contract can be set with a ♣ K lead.

It could also have been set with a club shift after the spade lead. Declarer would be forced to win in dummy. In danger of losing a heart, a diamond, a club and a spade, declarer has to pitch a minor loser immediately. If Declarer pitches his diamond on the third spade, West leads a high club and a third round of clubs, and East ruffs with the ten, promoting a second trump trick for the defense. If Declarer pitches his diamond, then West leads a diamond to East's ace and East and East leads a fourth round of spades, again promoting a second trump trick for the defense.