Ten tricks available

[david_c]

[hv=d=w&v=n&n=sa8752hdat74ck764&w=sj3hkj8754d32cqt2&e=s94h632dkqj9ca983&s=skqt6haqt9d865cj5]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

This comes from a swiss teams event: the hand records say 4♠ by South (a popular contract after North doubles a 2♥ opening) is makeable on any lead. But I can't work out how. It may be very simple, but what am I missing?

[cherdano]

How about trump lead to South, ♥A pitching diamond, ♥ ruffing finesse (assume covered), trump back to South, another ruffing finesse (say, covered), ♦A and exit in diamonds to East. If he gives you a ruff-sluff, you pitch a club from South, and you can still ruff two clubs and pitch one on the heart ten.

If West doesn't cover a ruffing finesse, you discard a club and continue with the heart elimination.

[inquiry]

The play is relatively straight foward-- especially, but not only, double dummy.

 

West leads ♦K, I would duck, and he would continue, which I win.

 

Now, ♠K, ♥A (pitch a ♦), ♥K force a cover, ruff.

 

♠Q, ♥T (planning on a ♦ pitch, but when EAST cover, ruff).

 

Exit a ♦. West is endplayed. If he leads a ♦ you get ruff and sluff, for 10 tricks, if he leads a club, you score your King...

 

That is four spades in dummy, two heart ruffs, two hearts, 1 diamond. If he leads diamond, you ruff in hand while throwing a ♣-- and win 2♠+1♥ in dummy,

 

IF he leads a ♣, you can not score your last trump separately, but you still get 1♣ and dummies two spades and a heart.

[david_c]

Ah right, thanks both :)