[inquiry]

Five clubs, maybe even six clubs, would have been easier. West leads the diamond Ace (Ace from AK in theory), and east plays an "encouraging" diamond ten. The question here are, of course,

• Best line to make four spades?
• Should south have bid differently?.

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[TWO4BRIDGE]

If the ♥ split 3-3, I can count 10 tricks: ( don't lead trumps )...
4 ♦-ruffs, ♠A K, ♥A K Q, ♣A

If an opp ruffs the 3rd ♥, I'll have to fall back on the ♣ finesse.

Ruff 1st ♦
♥ to K... ruff 2nd ♦
♥ A Q
.......( a ) if no ruff, then ♣ to A and ruff 3rd ♦
♠ to A and ruff 4th ♦
♠K is 10th trick

......( b ) if 3rd ♥ is ruffed and ♠returned ( to A ), then ruff 3rd ♦.
Now have to ♣ to Q ( wins ), take ♣A and ruff 4th ♦
♠K is 10th trick.

......( c ) if 3rd ♦ is ruffed by East w/♠Q, then hopefully East can't return another trump and he has to lead a ♣ into your A Q or the 4th ♥ which you can ruff on board and ruff the 4th ♦.

[inquiry]

Sorry that others are not finding this an interesting hand (maybe the title, routine hand takes some of the star power out of it).

two4bridge is clearly thinking along the same general plan that I had in mind for this hand (one line of which is a possible dummy reversal with only two trumps in the short trump hand, which makes it interesting already). That being said, I don't think he has the correct line straightened out yet (of course this was a real world hand, so my analysis could be flawed). i do know you can go down on the his main line when the third round of hearts is ruffed even if the club king is onside. There is also a minor point that maybe missed under his line c.

[Statto]

Agree with bidding.

Yes, dummy reversal looks best. On line C, if 3rd ♥ ruffed and ♠ returned, ruff a ♦ to hand then ♥ ruff with master ♠ to ruff 4th ♦ may work... East when in with ♠Q may have to lead a ♣...