Source: IBPA Bulletin Aug 2013 IMPs Dealer South Both Vul
A Q 7 K Q K J 8 7 4 Q J 6
K 8 6 A 6 A 10 6 5 3 A 8 4
West North East South
1NT
Pass 6NT Pass Pass
Pass
Opening Lead 3 After this simple auction, West led a fourth-highest three of hearts. Declarer saw that if diamonds were 2-1, then twelve tricks would come as a matter of course. If diamonds were 3-0, then either he would have to guess well or he could cash the side suits in the hope of gaining more information about the defensive hands. Adopting the latter strategy, declarer took the opening lead in dummy and ran the Q to West’s K at trick two. Rather than alert declarer that he began with 5 by continuing with the two, West exited with a deceptive 5. After winning the A, declarer cashed the two club and three spade winners. At first glance, not much had been gained. However, as the jack and ten of spades had fallen from East the odds were three to one that this was from a three-card suit rather that from a four-card suit including the nine of spades. So, declarer placed West with four spades, at least four hearts and at least three clubs – eleven cards in all. Consequently, as West could not hold three diamonds on these assumptions, declarer played the king of diamonds next. When East followed the contract was his. The 4 hands were:
A Q 7 K Q K J 8 7 4 Q J 6
9 5 3 2 10 8 5 3 2 K 10 9 3 J 10 4 J 9 7 4 Q 9 2 7 5 2
K 8 6 A 6 A 10 6 5 3 A 8 4