This deal was played in the 2015 Blue Ribbon Pairs in Denver. At unfavorable vulnerability, South held:

AQ5
J10853
Q9
1062.

His partner opened 1NT and East overcalled 3.

South bid 3 and West bid 3. North control-bid 4 and South signed off in 4. How would you play with a club lead?

1096 AK976 A85 A4

AQ5 J10853 Q9 1062

Say you win the A at trick one. If you lay down the A, West (yes West!) shows out. With East having all the clubs (and a natural heart trick), prospects look bleak. Likely the spades are wrong.

After the shock of the 3-0 heart break, let's say you play a low diamond from dummy. East takes the king (that's good) and cashes a high club (his partner following suit, completing a high-low). East plays the 2 in this position:

1096 K976 A8 --

AQ5 J1085 Q 10

You've lost 2 tricks and have to lose the Q. One of your low spades can go on the diamond ace, so it seems you have to finesse your Q to make the contract. Based on the bidding and play, the finesse is sure to lose. But, if RHO has a singleton spade, you could be in business. Watch.

You win the A and cash the Q. Trump a club in dummy (LHO discards) and cash the A to throw a spade (RHO follows). Now, play the K and another heart to endplay East. He has only clubs left and on his club play, you throw your Q and trump in dummy. Here is the Real Deal:

Vul:N-S Dlr: North	1096 AK976 A85 A4
KJ8743 -- J10762 53		2 Q42 K43 KQJ987
	AQ5 J10853 Q9 1062

With all 4 hands in view, follow the play and watch how South lost no spade tricks! The first two tricks were taken by dummy's A and A. Declarer was careful not to play a second high heart. If he had done so, East would have cashed his Q when in, thwarting the endplay. Declarer's small diamond was taken by East's K. East cashed a high club and played his spade. Declarer won the ace, cashed the Q, trumped a club and discarded a spade on the A. The K and a heart put East on play for a ruff-and-sluff. Declarer lost only one club, one diamond and the Q for a beautiful +620.