Evil Problem. - 1

We all know how demanding end semester examinations are, especially in the final year- final semester. What do I do when I have no inspiration to 'mug' for the next days end-sem ? Play Bridge of course. (On Baron) Once, I had asked Ashok for a play problem and he shot one brilliant one from a Frank Strewat's column on DC. I present that to you now.

In a duplicate event, You are Vul andYou hold:
S: A 4 2
H: Q 4
D: 9 8 2
C: K Q 7 4 2

Partner deals and opens the auction with 1 D and RHO passes, You bid the not so routine 2C (denying a 4 card major - any exceptions to this ? a 6-4 ? ) Partner bids 3D - a non-forcing bid showing a 6 card suit with 15-17 points. You bid 3NT which ends the auction. 3 of Hearts is the lead. The Dummy comes down -

Dummy
S: 8 6 3
H: A J 7
D: A Q J 10 5 3
C: A


S: A 4 2
H: Q 4
D: 9 8 2
C: K Q 7 4 2

I have Reproduced the declarer's hand for your convenience. How do you play the hand to make sure of your 9 tricks - ? Lets see. Counting our top tricks - one Spade, two hearts, one diamond and three clubs. Seven top tricks. Assuming the diamond King is off-side, we have to let in the defenders once to get to get 3 extra diamond tricks. Say Heart King is with your RHO, he might knock off the spade Ace immediately and if the diamond finesse fails, you might be in deep trouble, so going up with the Ace on the heart lead is the safest. The suit is still stopped. Clearly there is a problem with entries, so you give up on the diamond finesse and play this way - Go up with H A first time, then unblock the Ace of clubs, and Play Diamond Ace (King might drop ?) and continue with a small diamond.

The problem looks so simple, at the first glance, but remember your opponents are good. So, what if ? what if ? - Do you see any danger ? Let us say this happens, on tirck 4, East discards Heart 2 on your small Diamond. i.e Diamonds divided 3-1 and the defender with 3 cards ducks.
So now you have 2 Diamonds- that is all !! 3 clubs, 1 spade and 2 hearts, again a trick short. A 4-0 distribution will be equally bad. What is the way out ? Are you thinking of keeping club Ace for entry ? After playing two diamonds, lets say you continue with another, RHO takes it with king and returns a spade. What now ? stuck in dummy with 1 S,1 H, 5 D and 1 Club. Again one short. Note you cannot get 2 hearts i this case. Once opponents get in with King Diamond, they will knock off Spade Ace and keep King of Hearts and 3 top spades - 5 tricks => down one.

This is a duplicate event. So Think SAFETY PLAY.
Think
Think
Think.

I could neither crack this problem nor the next day's exam. The solution is pretty simple and elegant.Catering to the worst possible distribution, this is the best play: Go up with Heart Ace, Unblock the Ace of clubs, and play the Diamond Queen ! If the Diamonds are 2-2 no hassles. 10 tricks are assured. If diamonds are 3-1, its easy again. If Diamonds are 4-0, and the defenders duck the second small diamond, then you will be in hand, now, play heart Q. Let us say defenders take it with King and return a spade honour. Then go up with the Ace and cash two clubs and play a diamond to the Ace. So far - 1 spade, 1 heart, 3 diamonds and 3 clubs = 8 tricks. And the 9th trick is already established - Heart Jack and you are in the right place to cash it. If defenders ducked the heart Queen then you already had your 9 tricks. Perfect - simple - and elegant isn't it ?