18th May 2022

This deal is a slight modification of one from the EBU Spring Fours


 Dealer S
S K64
 NS Vul
H J854
    D Q75
    C KJ9
S J83
    
H A106
  
  square
D J986
    
C A105
    

South
 West
 North
 East
1C Pass
 1H Pass
1S Pass
 3C Pass
3NT All Pass


You lead the nine of diamonds against three notrump.
Declarer wins in hand with the king, partner playing the two.
Declarer now plays a club to the king and the jack of clubs, you duck both of these with partner following.
Declarer now plays a third club, partner discards the four of diamonds, suggesting something in hearts rather than spades.
How do you defend?


Scroll down when you have decided.































You need to cash at least four heart tricks.
To cater for declarer having the singleton nine of hearts you have to switch to the ten of hearts.





The full deal was


Dealer S
 S
 K64
    
NS Vul
 H
 J854
    
    D Q75
    
    C KJ9
    
S
 J83
     S
 Q72
H
 A106
     H
 KQ732
D
 J986
     D
 1042
C
 A105
     C
 64
    S
 A1095
    
    H
 9
    
    D
 AK3
    
    C
 Q8732
    

 

In real life North's hearts were J874 and East's KQ532, so only the lead of a high heart initially will beat the contract.


Thanks to Nicholas Greer for this deal