Blurry Spots

This Real Deal is from...?? I confess. I jotted down this deal to use for this column, but negelcted to note the source. And now, I've forgotten. But, the lesson is too good to pass up:

Vul:None Dlr: South	KJ10832 A87 K64 K
A9 QJ96 85 109765		Q65 104 AJ1092 842
	74 K532 Q73 AQJ3

Somehow North-South were in 3NT. Maybe 1-1-1N to start, some sort of An artificial bid to look for major-suit support in the hand of an opener who rebid notrump checkback and a greedy 3NT (matchpoints, I suppose) by North. 4 is unbeatable, but 3NT had issues.

Certainly if West hit on a diamond lead, East would be delighted, but you'd expect the Q lead (South having opened 1). From 3 top honors (consecutive or almost consecutive), don't lead 4th best (although the 6 on this deal would work nicely).

Declarer would likely win the Q in hand (let's say East plays the 4). Declarer would go after spades, presumably low to the jack and queen. East returns the 10 in this position:

Vul:None Dlr: South	K10832 A8 K64 K
A J96 85 109765		65 10 AJ1092 842
	7 532 Q73 AQJ3

Declarer can hold up. East has no more hearts. Declarer loses only that heart trick, 2 spades and the A. He knocks out the A and makes the contract. This assumes West glossed over the heart spots. Look at them closely. If West did the same, he would know to overtake the 10 in the diagrammed position. Note the power of the 6. Now, declarer can't effectively hold up. West plugs away at hearts and gets 2 heart tricks along with 2 spades and the A for down 1. This "blurring over" of the spots on the first trick is a common error.