Playing a 4-3 fit.
Bridge Column for July 22, 2001, By HARVEY BERNSTEIN
Both sides vulnerable.  South deals.
                              NORTH
                              S: 10               
                              H: 8 6 3       
                              D: K 10 6 4 2  
                              C: A K 9 7 
            WEST                             EAST
            S: Q 6 5 4 2                     S: K J 9 7      
            H: K 7 2                         H: Q 10 5     
            D: 5 3                           D: A 8               
            C: J 5 4                         C: 10 8 3 2    
                              SOUTH                         
                              S: A 8 3 
                              H: A J 9 4    
                              D: Q J 8 4   
                              C: Q 6      
          The Bidding:
                  SOUTH    WEST    NORTH    EAST                  
                    1D     Pass     2C      Pass
                    2H     Pass     4H      Pass
                   Pass    Pass
     This is the kind of hand that, excuse the expression,
separates the men from the boys.  South has fourteen high card
points and North has ten points and a singleton spade.  Three no
trump is easily defeated with a spade lead.  Five diamonds has
virtually no play.  As a result, you either play a partial or you
try four hearts, as is shown here.
     The opening lead has a lot to do with how the declarer will
go about trying to come to ten tricks.  When the hand was
actually played, West led the five of diamonds.  East won the ace
and returned a diamond.  Declarer won the diamond return in the
closed and and ducked a heart.  East won this trick and led a
spade.  Declarer won the ace and ducked another heart.  East won
again and played the king of spades.  Declarer trumped in dummy
and came to hand with a club to the queen.  When all of the
outstanding hearts fell under the ace, he was able to claim ten
tricks.

     A spade lead makes the timing a little more difficult. 
Declarer should win the ace and play a heart.  Whichever defender
wins this trick will continue with spades.  Declarer must trump
in dummy and now play a diamond in order to dislodge the ace. 
Fortunately, diamonds break 2-2 and when spades are continued,
there is still a trump in dummy to control that suit.  As long as
declarer can control the opponents spade leads with North's small
hearts, he will be able to come to ten tricks.
     Many players are defeated when faced with hands like this. 
The post-mortem usually focuses on the potential for bad splits
in the trump suit.  Remember, you can't control how the suits
actually split - all you can do is figure out how they have to be
for you to be able to make your contract, and then play for that
holding.  You will be amazed at how many times this actually
works.       
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Bernstein is a free-lance writer in Solon.