Dealer West both vul.

                                    ♠          K Q 7 5

                                    ♥          7 2

                                    ♦          A 5

                                    ♣         A J 10 6 2

            ♠          A 8 3                                       ♠          J 10 9 6

            ♥          10 6 3                                     ♥          A 9 8 4

            ♦          J 7 4                                       ♦          10 6 3

            ♣         Q 9 4 3                                   ♣         7 5

                                    ♠          4 2

                                    ♥          K Q J 5

                                    ♦          K Q 9 8 2

                                    ♣         K 8

On today's’ hand its a matter of “how you tell them..” or more to the point the order you play your hand to maximize your  trick count  without ever putting your contract into jeopardy.

An initial tally of winners comes to 3 Hearts (only after the first trick has gone and the Ace has appeared). 2Clubs ONLY, and 3 Diamonds ONLY.  Can we now manage to get this increased by 4 tricks giving a final total of 12 tricks.

Let’s see what we can do?

Win the second trick with King of Hearts to make East think West has some good Heart honours and to encourage East to play more Hearts should he gain the lead.

At trick three lead a small Spade up to dummy’s King, not minding if East gets the lead. However, when West ducks you now have one spade winner.

Now come back to hand via Club King and take the Club finesse through West and not minding if East gets the lead.

The club finesse works but when you play the Ace the clubs do not break 3:3. However you still have the Diamonds to fall back on and when you now test the Diamonds they break 3:3 and you will make the remaining tricks.

You eventually make 1 Spade, 3 Hearts, 5 Diamonds and 3 Clubs for a well played hand, without ever endangering the contract.

(NB you do not want to be in a Slam lest they cash their two aces- do you blame West for ducking the Spade Ace?)

You can also play out the following hand  to see how the hand pans out. (You need bridgvu.exe programme  and it is available free from   http://www.haroldschogger.videoes.html or BridgeBase programme on your machine already to view it )

alternatively watch the film of the hand being played out by going to www.haroldschogger.com/movies2.htm