| North | ||
| ♠ 6 4 2 | ||
| ♥ A 10 2 | ||
| ♦ K J 10 9 | ||
| ♣ K 9 2 | ||
| South | ||
| ♠ A Q 5 | ||
| ♥ J | ||
| ♦ A Q 8 6 4 3 | ||
| ♣ A Q 8 |
After you open 1♦ partner gives you a limit raise (in theory showing five diamonds) you land in 6♦. Yes, partner owes you a diamond, but has compensating values, like perfect fitting honors in hearts and clubs. In any case, you don’t plan to say word one — unless you go down! If you make the hand, you will praise partner for breaking the rules. It’s important to be covered.
West leads the ♥K. Trumps are 2-1. Plan the play.
The only suit with a loser(s) is spades and it is an equally divided suit. Your first thought should be to postpone playing spades as long as possible. However, it would be ideal if you could force West to lead a spade smack into your AQ, wouldn’t it? Perhaps a loser on loser play is in your future?
Win the ♥A, ruff a low heart high, draw trumps, cash three clubs ending in dummy, and lead the ♥10. Unless something has really gone crazy, East won’t have the ♥Q and you can discard a spade giving up the lead to West. Upon winning the trick West must either return a spade into the AQ or give you a ruff and sluff. Either way you have the rest.
If West happens to give you a ruff and sluff, ruff in dummy, the hand with the longer remaining spades, and discard the ♠Q from your hand, the hand with the shorter remaining spades; the tried and true way to handle a ruff and sluff.
| ♠ 6 4 2 | ||
| ♥ A 10 2 | ||
| ♦ K J 10 9 | ||
| ♣ K 9 2 | ||
| ♠ K 10 7 3 | ♠ J 9 8 | |
| ♥ K Q 9 8 | ♥ 7 6 5 4 3 | |
| ♦ 5 2 | ♦ 7 | |
| ♣ 10 5 3 | ♣ J 7 6 4 | |
| ♠ A Q 5 | ||
| ♥ J | ||
| ♦ A Q 8 6 4 3 | ||
| ♣ A Q 8 |