[rhm]

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You, red versus white, reach 4♥ from West after a nondescript sequence with no opposition bidding. (South as dealer passed).
The lead is the ♦T. (If you cover in dummy the queen appears)

How would you plan the play?

Rainer Herrmann

[benlessard]

I would assume south has the A of S (otherwise I dont have a shot) and ruff a club play S to K if it win I ruff a club cash the A of D and exit D discarding 2 spades (if south Ducked is A of S). Playing agaisnt a weak team i might expect to get a T9x leads but not agaisnt a strong team.

[whereagles]

I'd try to setup diamonds. DK, heart to J, ruff D and take it from there.

[Fluffy]

Diamodns seems like the only hope, I would duck since lead from 109xx is more likelly than a lead from 109. Now ♥Q, playing for ♥Kx onside, or ♥10x offside is teh same perfectage, but the win comes when south fails to duck ♥Q and provides us with an extra entry to dummy.

if diamonds don´t break we have little recovery, 5♥, 2♦, 2♣, 1♠ assuming third heart is with diamond lenght.

[CSGibson]

I am going to play small from dummy, then a heart to the jack. If that holds, I like my chances. I'll cash the ace of diamonds, pitching a spade, and seeing if the Q or 9 falls. If the Q falls, I will ruff a heart, play a heart to the ace, and run diamonds pitching a spade and then clubs until someone ruffs in. If the 9 falls, I'll run the J of diamonds, pitching a spade. If neither falls, I'll ruff a diamond low, seeing what happens, and then play a heart to the A, planning on running diamonds if hearts are 3-2, or ruffing out diamonds if short diamonds have long hearts (& they make the mistake of overruffing).

If the jack loses to the K, then I'm in more trouble (aka, I'm not making this without help); I think I need a defensive error, like Qx doubleton, and RHO ruffing in from 3 hearts when I lead the established J.

I haven't really thought this through for 4-1 trump breaks, but in general I think this to be the line with the best chance to make.