Your first decision comes early. Should you convert your partner's takeout double to penalty? Or should you do something else, like bid 2NT or 3NT?

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 South You
   Q J 9 7 6
   Q 9 3
   A 7
   K 7 6

The problem with one spade doubled is that your spades aren't quite good enough. West will probably hold the honors and spot cards behind you. And if you pass, you're also suggesting to partner that he lead a spade. No, West will take five or six tricks in 1 doubled, while you probably can score 600 in three notrump. Go for it.

West leads the 7 of hearts. Dummy comes down....

 South You
   Q J 9 7 6
   Q 9 3
   A 7
   K 7 6

You play the jack from dummy and East produces the ace. East returns the 5 of spades at trick two. You play the queen and West wins with the king. At trick three West leads the 6 of hearts, which you win in dummy with the 10, East following. How should you play this hand?

 South You
   Q J 9 7 6
   Q 9 3
   A 7
   K 7 6

You count your tricks: three hearts, three diamonds, at least one club. If you can pick up the jack of clubs, you might make two, perhaps three club tricks. You have lost the ace of hearts and king of spades. West still has the ace of spades and ace of clubs, so you can't afford to lose anything else. What's the best approach now? Attack clubs?

 South You
   J 9 7 6
   Q
   A 7
   K 7 6

If you can get a read on West's shape, it might help. West is unlikely to hold a side four-card minor, since he would have led it instead of a heart. Try cashing three diamonds. Everyone follows. Good. Now come to your hand with the queen of hearts. Everyone follows to this as well. What do you know?

 South You
   J 9 7 6
   Q
   A 7
   K 7 6

You know that West started with at least 5 spades, and has shown up with 3 hearts and 3 diamonds. Therefore, West has two clubs at most. So when you lead the 6 of clubs, if West plays low, you know to play the queen, not the 9 or 10, since West's club holding must be A-x. Then you will cash the king of hearts (throwing a spade) and duck a club back to West, who will be left on lead with the A-x of spades and must play to you.

Wait. West sees this, too! So on your 6 of clubs he goes up with the ace to avoid the endplay:

 South You
   J 9 7
   —
   —
   K 7 6

On the 6 of clubs, West wins the ace and returns the 5. You win in dummy with the 9, as East ducks. This leaves you with:

 South You
   J 9 7
   —
   —
   K 7 6

Is there any way to take three more tricks?

Yes, start by cashing the king of hearts and throwing the king of clubs. Then lead that 3 of diamonds. East wins and must give you two more club tricks. The full deal was:

	North Grace    3    K J 10 8    K Q 4 3    Q 10 9 2
West A K 10 8 4 7 6 4 J 6 5 A 5	East 5 2 A 5 2 10 9 8 2 J 8 4 3
	South You    Q J 9 7 6    Q 9 3    A 7    K 7 6

THE END

This movie was based on a hand from Martin Hoffman and Kathie Wei Sender's new book, The Wei of Good Bridge, available in the Bridgetoday book store.

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 South You
   J 9 7
   —
   —
   K

South — 3NT	West 1 all pass	North double	East pass
Opening lead: 7

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