A deal from a recent duplicate at Cheadle Hulme.  You reach seven clubs on the auction above, West leads a small club.  What is the best line of play?  (Clubs are not 4-0).

Solution

Win the club lead in dummy and play a spade to the ace.  Trump a heart and trump a spade and then play a trump to dummy.  If trumps are 2-2 then you will be able to set up the spades with two more ruffs in hand and claim.  If trumps are 3-1 trump a spade in hand (ruffing high if East follows).  If spades are now set up claim, otherwise ruff another heart, play a diamond to the king and play club and heart winners.  This makes when diamonds are 3-3 or one opponent has four spades and four diamonds when they will be squeezed.