[dcvetkov]

Scoring: IMP

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This hand was played in a team match and in both tables declarer failed to make it.
maybe it is not that easy as it looks? Lead is a trump. Plan the play. Any line that offers best chances?

[dcvetkov]

Oh yes, maybe it was not clear;) Contract is 6♥

[awm]

I think I'd try:

(1) Win heart lead with the king.
(2) Ace of diamond, ruff a diamond.
(3) Spade to queen, ruff a diamond (high).
(4) Club ace, pitching a diamond.
(5) Ruff a club and cash two top trumps.

If trumps are 3-2 this line seems close to guaranteed to make (can fail if diamonds 7-1, clubs 6-1, etc). Otherwise if trumps are 4-1, you reach an end-position something like:

♠Axx
♥x
♦-
♣-

♠Kx
♥-
♦-
♣QT

There are now several possibilities depending on who has the fourth heart and how the diamonds broke. If the club king has fallen you are almost cold (spade to king, cash club queen, etc). At this point it seems right to play a spade to the king. If this gets ruffed behind the king you're probably down. Otherwise, say both follow.

(1) If someone has discarded a spade already, then you're home. Just run the spades, let the person with long trumps score their trump.

(2) If all the diamonds have been seen, then try ruffing a club and cashing the last spade. Keep in mind that the six remaining opponent cards at this point are one trump, two spades, and three clubs. This works if the person with the last trump has a club and a spade, or if he has two spades and is behind the hand with the clubs, or if he has two clubs and his partner has the club king stiff.

(3) If there are still diamonds out there, but they are in the hand without the last trump, then try the same line as in (2). Your chances are even better than before.

[miguelm]

I guess I would play Ace and another Club discarding two Diams. from hand.... unless ofc the Club King dropped.... what happens next...?