This deal from Round 16 is a potentially tough play problem for NS should they reach 4[S].

Suppose South is declarer and West leads the [C]2?
Having won perforce in dummy it looks natural to cross to hand with the [H]K and play a spade to the king. When that holds declarer must come to hand with a diamond, ruff a club, repeat that process and then play a spade. If West overtakes East’s queen, cashes the [S]J and exits with a club declarer ruffs but can then play a diamond securing the last two tricks with dummy’s [H]A and a diamond.
You can change the order of play, leaving the trump suit till last, but with the [S]A onside you should be able to negotiate your way out of the maze to get home.
Across the four events 49 pairs reached 4[S], 31 recording 10 tricks.


