[661_Pete]

OK: this hand miffed me somewhat when I discovered I'd got a big round 0% on it! But I think I was simply unlucky.

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As I said, 6♣ by East. I was South, my best lead would have been a trump: in fact I led A♠ but switched to a trump once I saw dummy. But assume a trump lead.
Declarer wins in dummy, ruffs a low diamond, back to A♥ and another diamond ruff; ruff a heart and a third diamond ruff (with the Q) - bringing down the Ace. Now back to dummy with a trump to the J, and the three diamonds provide discards for the heart losers and a spade. Declarer can now give up a spade trick but still has A♣ and twelve tricks are home.

Nothing whatever the defence can do against this line. I suppose South could throw K♥ under the Ace, suggesting that they might ruff the second heart with the 9♣ and kill one of dummy's entries. But is East really going to be persuaded that the hearts are 7-1?

I wish I'd been East, on this deal! Hats off to my opponent for finding the right line, when no-one else did....

[manudude03]

On best play and defense, declarer can always make it by dropping the ace of diamonds. Depending on how the auction actually went, it might be the indicated line too. You usually will get a very good board for bidding and making a slam missing 2 aces since many partnerships won't be able to diagnose it.

[gszes]

cant imagine anyone being surprised they got a zero when opps bid and make a poor slam just the same as being in a great slam and going down due to rotten distribution. Bad luck happens the best bidding sometimes fails and rotten bidding is sometimes rewarded:)) don't hate the game due to bad luck enjoy it for the challenge:)))))))))

[Cyberyeti]

gszes, on 2016-July-16, 07:38, said:

cant imagine anyone being surprised they got a zero when opps bid and make a poor slam just the same as being in a great slam and going down due to rotten distribution. Bad luck happens the best bidding sometimes fails and rotten bidding is sometimes rewarded:)) don't hate the game due to bad luck enjoy it for the challenge:)))))))))

I also don't think it's the best line, A♦ with N is more likely than it dropping in 3.

Win the club, in dummy, K♦-A-ruff, heart ruff, Q♦, spade to Q, heart ruff, diamond ruff high and claim would seem to be a better line that fails.

[Winstonm]

A trump lead is interesting. Does declarer then risk finessing the club 8 at trick 3?