Double dummy problem

[Jinksy]

This came up in a league game the other night. According to Deep Finesse, NS have 10 tricks in NT (either side), but even looking at all the hands I'm struggling to find the tenth:

 

[hv=pc=n&s=st76hakj42d64cat2&w=sj9432hqt8765dcj4&n=sak8h93dqt75ckq95&e=sq5hdakj9832c8763]399|300[/hv]

 

For the sake of argument let's put E on lead, since most Es opened 3D.

[rhm]

Assuming you meant North is declarer and you get a passive black lead from East

This looks like a double end-play to me.

Cash your 6 black winners to strip East of all cards outside ♦, then exit with a ♦. East will have to give you a diamond trick. If East cashes 3 tricks in diamonds, before returning a fourth ♦ West will be squeezed between the majors, because he can not find 6 discards on the diamonds and clubs.

If East ducks or does not cash all his ♦ tricks West will still have to discard on the ♦.

If he has kept 3 cards in ♥ exit in ♠. Otherwise cash your ♥.

 

Rainer Herrmann

[Jinksy]

Assuming you meant North is declarer

 

Corrected, ta.

[Free]

Doesn't matter who's declarer and what lead you get, you just play ♠AK, 4 ♣s and exit a ♦. East will bring your 9th trick in ♦, and in the mean time you squeeze West in the Majors. If East doesn't cash his ♦AK then you can just endplay West to give you ♥J as 10th trick. Thanks to DD you don't need to worry about count. B)