Dealer: North Vuln: E/W

Having made a very reasonable 3NT bid after partner has bid twice by himself, declarer then proceeded to misplay the hand.

All he had to do was count his winners but didn't. Instead he went after the clubs and when West got in played 4 more winning Spades and took the contract two off conceding 12 Imps.

Now let's rewind and count our winners first.

Initially you now have 1 spade winners after the Ace has gone, 1 Heart, 2 Diamonds and 2 clubs so you now only need to find 3 more. - The three could come from Clubs if the QJ were to fall doubleton or you could go after Diamonds and if they break well or the Diamond Queen is onside or it is a singleton then you will get home.

You might hold up the second Spade trick but that runs the risk the opponents will switch to Hearts at that stage.

You should test the Diamonds first before touching Clubs and you get a pleasant surprise when the suit breaks 2:2 and the Diamond queen is in fact onside.

Perhaps West might have led his partner's suit. However the suit is blocked and declarer will still get home as West will now play a spade once the Hearts are blocked.