This deal comes from the first day of the Grand National Teams in Washington D.C., July, 2009:

6 K Q J 10 2 Q 6 10 9 4 3 2

Vulnerable against not, I held these cards and saw RHO open 1. Should I overcall?

Absolutely! I know the vulnerability is unfavorable, but I just have to get this heart suit in. Yes, I have only 8 HCP, but the distribution makes up for that shortage.  (As far as an unusual 2NT to show clubs and hearts, that would be too unusual--1 is high enough!).

After my overcall, LHO made a negative double and partner jumped to 4. Opener doubled and everyone passed. Are you nervous? I wasn't too embarrassed by the developments. A low diamond was led and I saw:

Vul: N-S Dir: East	A 10 9 4 3 6 5 4 3 A 10 4 2 --
	6 K Q J 10 2 Q 6 10 9 4 3 2

The first thing I do in a suit contract is look at what I must lose. Presuming the lead is not away from the K, it looks like I have to lose a diamond as well as the A. Those are the only 2 fast losers, but what, pray tell, can I do with all of my little clubs? I can ruff some of them in dummy, but this could be a struggle.

What should I do at trick one on the diamond lead? If I play low, RHO will likely win his king and play ace and a trump (he will surely want to cut down on ruffs in the dummy). How would that leave me placed?

I would have 2 diamond tricks (the queen in hand and the ace in dummy). Add to that the four heart tricks in hand, only 2 ruffs in dummy and the spade ace. Unfortunately, that adds up to only 9 tricks.

What if I win the A at trick one? I will get only one diamond trick, but should be able to take more ruffs in dummy. Will I be able to take the first 10 tricks on a crossruff? You have to mentally plan the play before you call for a card from dummy. Let's see: A, A, spade ruff, club ruff, spade ruff, club ruff...    No, this plan won't work. Even if RHO started with as many as four clubs, he will throw one of them as you ruff spades to your hand.

Since winning the A can't work, you might as well play low at trick one. Maybe something good will develop with dummy's 10.

RHO wins the K, and as expected plays ace and a trump at tricks two and three.  LHO follows to the A, but throws a low diamond on the next round.

If LHO began with Jxx, you could be in business. Anyway, for now, you ruff a club in dummy (RHO follows with the jack).  You play the A and another spade (RHO plays the king on the second round), ruffed in hand. You lay down the Q (LHO following low--it seems he began with xxx) and ruff another club with dummy's last trump. This time RHO follows with the king. Hmmm, this is getting interesting.  From LHO's negative double, you know he has only 4 spades (with 5, he would have bid 1). So, you know everyone's shape. LHO is 4=1=3=5.  RHO is 3=3=4=3.  Furthermore, you know RHO started with K??  Axx  KJxx   ?KJ.

Since RHO didn't open 1NT or 2NT, but doubled 4, he must have more than 15-17, but less than 20-21 balanced. He has 18-19 HCP. He is a dead duck. You ruff another spade, leaving RHO spadeless. You draw RHO's last trump, and now the coup de grace.

RHO is down to Jx and a high club (presumably the ace). You play a club and RHO concedes. This was the full deal:

Vul: N-S Dir: East	A 10 9 4 3 6 5 4 3 A 10 4 2 --
Q J 8 7 7 9 8 3 Q 8 7 6 5		K 5 2 A 9 8 K J 7 5 A K J
	6 K Q J 10 2 Q 6 10 9 4 3 2

Looking at all the cards, it is easier to follow the play in 4X. West led a diamond (a trump would have been better, and probably was the expert lead).  East won the K and switched smartly to ace and a trump.

Next came:

Trick 4: Club ruff.

Tricks 5-6: Spade Ace, spade ruff.

Trick 7: Diamond queen.

Tricks 8-9: Club ruff, spade ruff (East is now out of spades)

Tricks 10-13: Draw trump, low club to East who has to give dummy the A10 for the 9th and 10th tricks.

Could the defense have done anything about this? Yes, a trump lead would have been effective, but how about after the actual first few tricks?

East could have defeated the contract. Winning the K and playing ace and a heart were fine. But, when declarer ruffed clubs in dummy, East had to get rid of his ace and king! Then, in the ending, when declarer tries to throw him in, West can win his Q and cash a good spade for down one--try it.

When we went to compare scores with our teammates (some guys named Meckstroth and Rodwell), they dejectedly read out, "minus 100." Meckstroth had upgraded the East hand (he loves upgrading) to open 2NT. Rodwell Staymaned into 3NT with the West hand. South led the K and the defense easily collected four heart tricks and two aces for down two. Of course, that meant we still won 12 IMPs (790 minus 100)--not bad!