South was a brilliant young American, Mike Lawrence, one of the Dallas Aces who recovered the world title for the USA in 1970. In 1966, when this hand was played at the Summerton Club in San Francisco, he was less well known. Winning the first trick with 10♠, he immediately returned a Spade. West ducked, perforce, as otherwise, declarer has nine tricks. Now came the second key play, a DIAMOND from dummy. Three hearts, three clubs, two spades and the diamond Lawrence eventually established were enough tricks to fulfil the contract. Clearly, if declarer had tried to establish the clubs the defence would have had five tricks, one spade, one club and three diamonds.

An easy hand, but you need to plan and a good one to practice your thought process.

Suppose you win the opening lead with A♦  ... you will go down!

When planning a hand you need to manage losers.

There are 2 certain heart losers so the main risk to the contract that you can do something about is that trumps will break 4-1.

So focus your efforts in solving this problem. You many be able to take two ruffs in your hand with low trumps. To preserve entries to dummy you should win the lead with K♦  (in fact even without any plan this would be a good move as you can already see there are very few ways to enter the dummy hand). 

Cash AK♣  and cross to A♦  ruff a club and you will make your contract. 

Declarer drew trumps in 2 rounds and played the 3 top diamonds. Had the suit broken 3-3, all would have been well. If W had shown up with the 4 diamonds declarer would have crossed to the A♠ and ruffed a spade. He would then return to his hand with a trump and ruffed his last spade. He could then end play W with the fourth diamond, throwing a club. When it was E who turned up with the fourth diamond declarer needed to try something different. He led a spade to the Jack. W won with the queen and was end-played. He had no diamond to play and a lead of either black suit was into South tenance. 

Deceptively he won with the A♣ ! rather than take it simply with Q♣ when he played the Q♠ W ducked and E signalled with the 6♠ to show 3 cards in the suit. W took the second spade with the A♠ placing his partner with Q♣ he played 3♣  imagine his surprise when dummy won with the 10♣ Declarer had conjured an entry to dummy. He ran the spades and was then able to establish a ninth trick with his diamonds. 

You win the club lead with the A♣  and draw trumps in three rounds. The problem now is that the club suit is blocked. If you simply cash the top three clubs and play a fourth club you will have to win in the South hand. This is no further entry to dummy. You should cross to dummy with a second top club and lead a spade, throwing a club from the south hand. You can then win the return and score an easy 12 tricks. 

PLAN IN ADVANCE. Not wait until you are in hand with no entry to dummy to cash your last club. 

Cash 3 rounds of hearts eliminating the suit then lead dummy's 10♣  E has to cover and you throw one of your losing diamonds. E has 2 losing options now. He can lead away from the K♦ or concede a ruff and discard by playing another club. Ten tricks either way. 

Suppose you win the trump lead and immediately cash the A♦ and K♦  West will ruff the second and return a trump. You will then have only 2 trumps in dummy to deal with 3 losing diamonds. One down. 

It's the same if you draw 2 rounds of trumps yourself, following with the top diamonds. The solution is to cash only one top Diamond, then to lead a low diamond. The defenders could win and lead back a trump, but declarer would have 2 high trumps in the dummy with which to ruff his remaining 2 diamond losers. 

You need 3 club tricks to make 9 and must establish these without allowing W on lead. Suppose you cross to one of dummy's entries and lead a club. East may contribute the Jack, aiming to create a club entry to the West hand. You win with the Queen but can no longer make the contract. If you cash the A♣ East will throw the King under it. If instead you use dummy's remaining entry to lead towards the Ace ♣ (planning to duck if East plays the K♣ ) you will have no entry to the 13th club. The solution is to CASH the A♣ from hand. It makes no difference which honour E unblocks. You then cross to dummy and lead towards the Queen, ducking if East plays an honour. 

To achieve a trump coup you will need to ruff 2 spades to reduce your trumps to the same length as East's. At trick 2 you make the cost nothing play of ruffing a spade, reducing your trump length to 5. You then play the A trumps followed by a trump to the K. If trumps break 3-2 you can simply return to hand and draw the last trump. When they don't you are conveniently in the dummy to take a second spade ruff. All is now well. You cash your three top cards in the minors and pass the lead to the defenders. You are sure to score 2 tricks with your Q-10 trumps. 

ruff the lead in dummy. What next? Suppose you draw 2 rounds of trumps, then play diamonds. West will overruff the 3rd round and with no trumps left in dummy you will lose a club trick.

The same fate awaits if you cross to the K♥  and take a second club ruff first. You have to lose a trump trick eventually and it makes good sense to do this at a time when the opponents can't cash a club. 

After riffing the first club DUCK a trump. Whatever they return you win draw trumps and set up diamonds. You can now return to dummy and discard clubs on diamonds. 

decvlarer won the A♦   cross to A♥ and ruff a diamond. Cash 2 top clubs and ruff a 3rd club with the K♥ a trump to the J drew the last trump and declarer then led the J♣ 

When W produced the Q the contract was assured. Declarer threw a losing Spade from dummy and West was end played. The contract would also succeed if W held J♠ or East K♠ to end play either. 

If the diamonds are 3-3 it is easy. What can you do should they be 4-2? Let the defence win the FIRST a diamond trick. Play to the 9 and E wins the Q♦ 

if you ducked the K♠  then took the A♠  a spade may be returned you can ruff and only now play your 2 rounds of trumps and ruff the last diamond. 

If the spade finesse loses a club return puts the contract at great risk. Can you set up dummy's spades without losing the lead to East ?  Yes, win the lead in dummy and play a diamond to the 9 allowing West to win. If W returns a trump again win in dummy, diamond to the ace, J♠ winning with the A♠ in dummy throwing last spade on K♦  now you have a ruffing finesse. Even if W wins the contract is secure. 

There was a great deal of variation on this bid 

4♦ looking for game in either minor

pass 

3NT because of the vulnerability prefer to play than defend

4♥ Pushing for a minor slam if partner bids 4♠ a 5♣ bid suggests extra strength than a jump straight to 5♣ 

one to discuss with your partner. 

with a panel of 26 (all playing strong no trump I assume)

pass 13
1♣  9
1♦  3 
1♥  1

pass if the hand belong to the opponents it is unlikely you can compete effectively. 1♣ misleds partner and is close to a psych

1♣  as they are happy with a club lead, but has no preemptive value

1♦  in case partner raises and is to system

1♥  not to system but preemptive and causing more trouble for the opponents 

The play relies on the first trick so don't rush it.

win the club in dummy and discard the Q♦  draw trumps in 3 rounds throwing a club and diamond from dummy. Play K♥  East should duck or creates and entry in dummy with 10♥ declarer continues with a low diamond W plays a n honour but is now end played plays a diamond from the K♦ or a club declarer makes his contract.

If you ruff with the 2♠ you will be unable to redeem your error. Ruff with the 6♠ and play A♠ revealing the position. 

3 rounds of diamonds, 3 rounds of hearts.

Play it again and you can analyse all the variations and also see that West's lead of A♣ should on best defence beat the contract, but continuing with the K♣ is a mistake and gives declarer they chance to make. 

Win ♦ return, cash AK♥ And play trump to A♠ play the J♥ and discard your club. East has no way to put West on lead for a diamond ruff. 

(note the contract can be defeated on a diamond lead) 

take A♦  cross to A♠  and take heart finesse. Play a low heart ! 

(note if a club is led then the slam can't make)

cross to A♠ and take the heart finesse. play a LOW heart. Win the return in hand and crossruff in the red suits, draw trumps and claim.

The best idea is to employ a rare technique known as 'trading ruffs'  (you will see through play it again there are other options)

You win the heart lead cross to the A♦  lead another heart towards K. Lead a 3rd heart throwing a diamond from dummy. Nothing can now prevent you from ruffing a diamond in dummy for the 12th trick. 

This looks easy and we would probably go wrong at the table. You have 3 discard options on the 4^th heart 

10♣ ,7♦ or 3♠ 

At first glace it seems a club should be discarded so as not to block the suit as East won't cover the J, you must discard the 7♦ 

none of the panel thought the double was for penalties 

100% agreement on 5♣  maybe partner can bid slam 

most of the panel agreed a 2♥ was worth the risk and happy for a heart to be led

pass was also considered stating: "I am  not sticking my neck out at this vulnerability" 

Looks and easy end play right? If East ruffs the first trick it isn't so easy, you must jettison your A♥ to prepare for a double ruff and discard. 

Win the return from E. Probably A♣ over his K♣ , draw trumps, play A♦  and K♦ and exit with a heart. West can only return a heart for a DOUBLE DISCARD

club from table and diamond from hand, on his next heart you ruff and discard. 

With 9 high card points plus 1 length point every player choose a bid. NONE choose to bid 1♠ as this would show either 5 spades or at least a better suit. 50% choose to bid 1NT, even without a club stop. 50% choose to raise 1♥ to 2. It isn't perfect but they are happy for partner to lead a heart if they defend and they aren't good enough for a 2♦ bid. 

You take the lead with the A♦ play A♥ and note the bad trump break, your need to eliminate the diamonds so you ruff 2 diamonds and remove the clubs by taking 3 club tricks, NOW you play 10♥ taken by West who is end played. Whatever he leads you can make your contract. 

If you take the lead with your A♠ you wll lose control. 

(notice that Q♠ wasn't the best lead for West, but what human player would lead a small diamond?)

This boils down to creating an extra entry in dummy to use the spades for 3 diamond discards. Take A♦  play A♠ ruff a spade but NOT with the 5♥

Lead 5♥  and let West win with the 6♥

whatever he leads the contract is made

Not an easy one. It looks like you must lose 1 spade and 1 club, but by dummy reversal you can ruff 3 spades in your hand re-enter dummy to draw last heart with A♣ 

draw last heart discarding the losing club. The joys of play it again can show you that the spade lead was the downfall for the defence and that there are also other lines.

Well the official answer was you cannot make the contact. 

Try using PLAY IT AGAIN and you will clearly see it is possible if you unblock your diamonds. 

The easiest option is to duck the first spade to cut communications between East and West, this is the safest line.

However, as the cards lie an immediate club finesses will also succeed. 

Taking the A♥ is clear, If you then immediately play A♣ discarding a heart the contract can no longer be made as you will be forced in hearts. 

Instead start establishing your diamonds! the defence win,  cash a heart can now only force you once before diamonds are established. 

You must avoid playing spades yourself. After drawing trumps discard the 6♦ on the last club and play A♦  FIRST then Q♦ 

DO NOT TAKE THE FINESSE. No matter who holds the K♦ the contract is now safe. 

you have 11 top tricks. If the spades break 3-3 OR the Q♣ is on side you make your contract. 

Test both and keep your options open play a small spade from both hands BEFORE reverting to the finesse if needed. 

(with double dummy you know the finesse won't work, so you should be guided to the better plan!) 

1/ declarer's best option is a high ruff A♣ AK♠ AK♥ throwing in West with J♥ who has to led a ♣ for 2 spade discards for declarer on the KQ♣ 

2/ West defeats this plan by underruffing at trick 3 with the J♥ ! hence discarding his winning trump but avoiding the end play. 

Win in dummy, play 3♣ finessing 9♣ Then play A♥ and heart to Q♥ ruff 4♥  Cash AK♠ ruff a spade with dummy Q♣ West should not overruff for best defence. This is the key step

LEAD the last ♥ if East ruffs that is not best for him, so he throws another diamond. You throw Q♠, now you lead a ♦ from table and East is doomed and only gets one trick. 

Draw ONE round of trumps play Q♦ from dummy discarding a club. Draw the rest of the trumps. You can now ruff a club in hand after taking the A♣  without being overruffed, reenter dummy with K♥  discarding the losing hearts on clubs. 

East return Q♠ and trap declarer on table. Leading a club East wins and gives West an overruff. A spade and West can overruff immediately. A diamond will lose to the Q either immediately or after cashing the K.

Surprisingly the answer is to lead 6♥ to establish a heart trick before they are discarded on diamonds. 

2♥  100 4♥ 60 1NT 30

Yoir heart suit holds plenty of values to upgrade to the 2♥ bid

3♦ 100 4♦ 90 2♠ 80 5♦ 80 4♣ 70

This vote was from 1974 (the hands range in date), even then Terence Reese was horrified at this result. 

A more modern list of players would no doubt bid more aggresively. 

The books says you can't make it on best defense, you ruff the heart return with K♠  and then when you play a trump to table East holds up, I think that still makes? 

my solution is : 
Declarer should throw a losing diamond on this heart returns, win whatever East returns and go to table with A♦ leading through Easts J♠ 
The clubs are then good for diamond discards losing only A♠ and the second heart lead. The defense mistake seems to be taking the A♠  which was part of the given play, if they had held up only 10 tricks can be made (do you agree?)

You cannot risk drawing trumps from the top in case of a bad split and you may get a heart return.

Lead 9♦ and run it, unless East cover with the J♦ when you are home and dry. 

This guarentees the contract even if trumps break 4-1. 

Look closely and you will see the diamonds are blocked.

After cashing AK♦ lead a heart and throw one of your diamonds.
West can only have 3 hearts left, which he can cash, but then whatever he plays you have 9 tricks. 

points awarded for answer

3♣ 100 3♥ 80 3NT 60 4♦ 50 3♦ 40

3♥ , forth suit forcing doesn't show your club fit, the big question is if 3♣ is forcing in your partnership, if so it is a clear favourite 

2♣  100 points, pass 90 points, 2♦  30 points, 2♥  10 points

A strong case is made by those voting for PASS to remember that the opponents will have a spade fit and in actual fact can make 3S.They are much less likely to bid if you pass. 
Plus what is your response when partner bids 2♠ ? (some of the panel assume partner would have bid 1♠ holding 4 spades)

Expert panel of 36 top players : 2♦ 100 points, 2♥ 90 points, 2NT 50 points, 3♥ 10 points

You win with the K♦ and lead a club to hand and find the 4-0 holding with East. You need to create two entries in dummy to make all the clubs or make 3 spades and give up the Q♣ .
You therefore lead the 10♠ and run it. If the 10 wins you will have 3 spades and can play clubs from the top and enter dummy with the A♠ after losing the Q♣  and cashing 10♣ .
If instead the 10♠  loses to East's Q♠ you will have 2 entries to dummy to repeat the finesse and later cash the last club.

This play would be unnecessary in a 6♣ contract as the thirteenth club would be a trump and no entry to dummy would be needed to cash it. 

Expert panel opinion : 2♦ 100 points, 3NT 70 points, 4♣ 60 points, 3♣ 10 points. 

2♦ is the best bid as it doesn't preclude a minor contract, still enables a NT option and for most pairs is forcing. 

Don't take the K♣ with the A♣ but play low and ruff. Then draw the outstanding trump and lead a diamond towards the Q♦ 

If West goes up with the Ace you can discards a heart in dummy on the K♦ if he ducks you can discard the K♦ on the A♣ and only lose a heart. 

The pro passed, at least he didn't double, as you can see 6♥ is lay down. At the other table 6♠ doubled just 3 down for -500

How would your partnership have done?

EAST is the DANGER HAND

Win the spade and play a small heart from dummy. Cover whatever East plays. If he plays the 3♥ play the 4♥ West will win with the 8♥ but cannot attack clubs, you can now pick up all the trumps and discard a club on a diamond. 

the only way is to trump the K♥ and lead a SMALL trump from hand. to the 9♠ 

at this point you still have 7♠ on table to trump if East takes his J♠ and leads a heart. Win any other return take the trumps out and discard clubs on your diamonds. 

This contract can only be made if declarer leads a small diamond at trick 2. This is the only line that can succeed if diamonds split 5-1

yes, but only if declarer ducks the opening lead in dummy and unblocks the Q♥ on East's K♥ . This will enable declarer to finesse the J♥ to provide a discard for the 3♦  (if East had the J♥ he would have played it)

Duck the K♣ and discard a diamond on the A♣  This line only fails if East has 4 diamonds. 

You can only make the contract if the diamond finesse works, so don't take the club finesse. 

After taking the A♦  at trick one, he crosses to the A♣ , ruffed a club high and led a low trump! The J♠  took a trick to which it wasn't entitled, but declarer now had two entries to dummy, allowing him to set up the club AND get back to them.

All you have to do is let West win the opening lead, if he doesn't switch to the A♥  you will make 12 instead of 10 by discarding a diamond from hand on the K♠ , ruffing a diamond and discarding both your in hand hearts 

Remember  : PLAN YOUR PLAY before you play your first card from dummy. Beware of DANGER HAND