 A K J 10 2
 A 4 3 2
 K 3
 5 3 |
||
| —
K J 9 6 5
Q 10 8 6
Q J 9 2 |
9 8 7 5 4
8 7
J 7
10 8 7 4 |
|
| Q 6 3
Q 10
A 9 5 4 2
A K 6 |
| West | North | East | South |
| 1NT | |||
| 2° |
3 |
Pass | 4 |
| Pass | 5 |
Pass | 6 |
| Pass | 6 |
Pass | 6NT |
| Pass | Pass | Pass |
Q
West led the queen of clubs, taken in hand with the A as East played an encouraging 8. Declarer had only ten top tricks and his only hope of extra tricks was to pressure West.
When West discarded a heart on the Q, declarer placed him with five hearts.
On the next four spades West threw another heart and three clubs (he could not afford to part with even one diamond as declarer would then set up two long diamond tricks) while South parted with a club then a diamond. This was the endgame:
|
A 4 3 2
K 3
5 |
||
| —
K J 9
Q 10 8 6
|
8 7
J 7
10 7 4 |
|
|
Q 10
A 9 5 4
K |
The discarding suggested that West had started with 0=5=4=4 shape, so declarer played a club to his K.
A and another heart to set up two long hearts in dummy for his eleventh and twelfth tricks.
When West actually threw a diamond, declarer played the K and A followed by a third diamond.
West now had to lead away from his K, allowing South toscore two heart tricks and a third diamond trick for his contract.
South did not have to make excuses for his bidding.
