Smart Play by Luis Francos

Nuria Almirall of Spain found herself faced with a 6C contract that did not appear to have much chance of success.

Game All. Dealer South.

S 2
H A84
D AK75
C K6542
S J976 S QT843
H K6 H J953
D 9642 D T83
C T73 C A
S AK5
H QT72
D QJ
C QJ98

East led a diamond and Nuria looked for the only winning position... and found it! In dummy with the DJ, Nuria (North), cashed the DQ and played the S AK, discarding a heart from her hand, and ruffed the third spade.

She then played a third round of diamonds and keeping her fingers crossed, followed this with a small trump. Her
prayers were answered when East held only the singleton Ace.

She was forced to play a heart or concede a ruff and discard. When she correctly played a heart, Nuria cleared
the final hurdle by putting in dummy's ten. Well played!