3
                                        109853
                                        Q963
                                        A94
        1098652                                                  KQJ7
        72                                                            6
        K7                                                           10842
        Q108                                                       7652

                                        A4
                                        AKQJ4
                                        AJ5
                                        KJ3

Contract 6 Hearts, opening lead the 10 of spades:

There are no losers in the majors but you are very likely to have a loser in diamonds.  The aim is to create an extra trick in diamonds so that you do not have to take the club finesse.

Take the spade Ace, draw trumps, cash the Ace of diamonds and ruff a spade.  Now lead a low diamond towards your J5.  If East began with Kx you are home; if either opponent started with 10x, it is over; and all is well if diamonds are 3-3.  The benefit of the chosen line arises when West began with Kx.  If you had finessed in diamonds, West would win and return a diamond.  With nothing favourable developing, you would be one down.

As it is, after the ace of diamonds first and a diamond to the Jack, West wins but has no diamond to exit.  A club runs to your tenace, while another spade gives you a ruff and discard.
 
 
 

Clive Keep January  2004