Partner raises to 6NT. What is your plan on the 
10 lead?
Answer: 6 - A, 
5 to the J and a spade intending to insert the 
J if RHO plays low.
This will be a long explanation, but I hope that reading it slowly and studying it will keep you from painting yourself into a corner.
As always, the plan in notrump starts by counting top tricks. Assuming you don't block up the hearts, you have 3 hearts, 1 spade, 3 diamonds and 4 clubs for 11 sure tricks.
The next thought (whether an easy deal, medium deal, hard deal, any deal) is "how will we get more?"
The answer is either 3-3 diamonds, or from the spade suit. The spade suit will provide an extra trick if you can lead towards your AJ10 and finesse, and even if it loses, finesse again. This is roughly 75%. If you are careful, you have enough entries.
In addition to that 75% spade chance, you'd also like to make your contract if diamonds are 3-3.
But, don't try the diamonds first. If you lay down the 
AKQ and they are 4-2, you have set up a diamond trick for the defense. When they win the first spade, they might cash the setting trick in diamonds.
The order of taking your chances, therefore, should be:
1) Spade finesse (presuming it loses)
2) Then test for 3-3 diamonds (claim 12 tricks if they break).
3) If diamonds don't break, then try a second spade finesse.
If all of those fail, you are a very unlucky player and I am a bad teacher for laying out the cards that way.
Before painting yourself into a corner, make sure you properly handle the entries (don't burn up all the club entries too early). Also, don't take the hearts too early and set up the hearts for the defense.
So, here is the order of play:
Trick 1) Win the A.
Trick 2) Play the 5 to the J. This keeps the clubs ready to run and lets you take your first spade finesse.
Trick 3) Spade to the J. If it wins (or RHO splits honors from KQ), you are home free. You'd have your 12th trick.
Let's assume it loses.
Trick 4) Win any return. Nothing can hurt you.
Tricks 5 and beyond) Remember to unblock the other high heart (Q). Remember to test diamonds -- if they are 3-3, you claim 12 tricks.
If diamonds don't break, cash the K, then overtake the Q and cash dummy's long club and long heart and resort to the spade finesse.
The full deal is below.
Is this easy to do at the table? No. But, with experience, practice and study, you will have a much better chance than if you just throw cards without trying to plan ahead.
Thank you for attending our Webinar on "Dont' Paint Yourself into a Corner (Notrump)."
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