All vulnerable. South deals. NORTH S: J 10 7 6 3 H: A D: 6 4 C: A K 7 5 3 WEST EAST S: K Q 8 S: A 9 4 H: J 9 7 3 H: Q 8 6 4 2 D: 10 3 D: J 9 8 7 C: Q 10 6 4 C: J SOUTH S: 5 2 H: K 10 5 D: A K Q 5 2 C: 9 8 2 SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST 1D Pass 1S Pass 1NT Pass 3C Pass 3D Pass 3NT Pass Pass Pass This hand presents an interesting play problem. West led the three of hearts. With seven top tricks, declarer has to establish two more tricks in the minor suits to bring his contract home. South won the opening lead in dummy with the ace. Since determining how to play the diamond suit depended on how many tricks could be won with the club suit, declarer called for the ace of clubs and when East played the jack, he alertly unblocked by playing the eight of clubs from his hand. The three of clubs was played. East discarded the nine of spades and declarer played the nine of clubs. West could not afford to win this trick. If he did, declarer could lead the two of clubs toward the dummy and take the marked finesse for four tricks in the club suit. West, therefore played the six and the nine of clubs held. Declarer know could count three tricks from the club suit and would need only four tricks from the diamond suit. He took the best line by playing the two from hand and then ducking with the four from dummy. So long as the diamond suit divided no worse than 4-2, declarer would always come to four diamonds, three clubs, and two hearts. Had the clubs divided in such a way that declarer could not score more than the ace and the king, he would have had to rely on an even division of the diamond suit to make his contract. If that were the case, he could score five diamond tricks by playing diamonds from the top. Declarer's careful play of the club suit allowed him to make a better play in the diamond suit. =================================================================================