Bridge Corner
By Gary Mitchell 

The bidding 

After using Stayman, North's 4NT is quantitative since 4 Clubs was still available as Gerber. South has a nice 16, so accepts the invitation. I have said it before: I hate bidding close slams. They are just too difficult for most declarers. Oh well-you didn't bid it, your partner did.

The play

You win the opening lead in dummy and lead the Heart Queen. The finesse wins, so you now lead a low Heart to the 10 (you did that in case East had a doubleton King). However, on the second Heart, West shows out. You now have 11 tricks, and it appears that you will have to lead a Club from dummy and guess the Club position. Do you?

You won't have to guess if you take all your Spade and Diamond winners first. You will be down to four cards each when you play the last Diamond or Spade from dummy. East must hold onto two Hearts so must go down to one Club. When East does that, you discard your little Heart, keeping the Heart Ace and the King and Ten of Clubs. When you now lead a Club from dummy, East will play his only Club. If it is the Ace or Queen, you are safely home. If it is a small Club, West is sitting with the Ace and the Queen and a big grin!

Questions: email me at gary@smabridge.com 
Lessons: Call 152-6351.