This is aHand:

Bidding.

This is a simple affair. East Passes as dealer and we have an obvious opening bid of 1NT. Partner raises that to game and there the matter rests.

Play.

West has an easy lead of the ♥Q and we pause awhile to count our tricks and to make a Plan.

There are seven on top (two Spades, two Hearts, two Diamonds and a Club), so two more have to be developed from somewhere. Playing on Diamonds is the wrong play; that would only generate one extra, and that if the suit split 3-2.

The only place where we might get two extras is Clubs. If we could play that suit for three tricks in all we’d be home and dry. What, though, is the percentage play with this combination?

Well, when we have all the intermediate cards (the Ten-Nine-Eight-Seven) we can treat the suit in the same manner as we would a combination finesse. So we can lead (and run) the Nine. Should that force the King we’d be home and dry. Should it lose to the Jack we’d have to run the Queen (or the Eight) next, hoping that West held the King.

By playing in this manner we only lose two tricks should East turn up with both the King and the Jack. So this play gives us a 75% chance of success. The alternative play (of leading the Ace and another, perhaps?) would have us scratching our heads should East play two small cards. What would we do on the second round? Finesse against the Jack or play the Queen? The combination finesse play avoids the agonising guess. Not only that, but it gives us better odds.

So here we win the Heart lead with the King, the better to start Clubs from the closed hand. We lead the ♣9 next and let it run. We expect that to lose the trick; hoping that it forces the King. In fact, on this layout, it holds the trick. Charmed with this development we lead another Club and this time West splits his honors. It’s all too easy now; we take the ♣A, drive out the King and have enough tricks for the contract.

Nine tricks come from two Spades, two Hearts, two Diamonds and three Clubs.

[Note. It would be just as good to lead the ♣Q on the first round on this layout. However, the ♣9 is marginally superior. Why? Well, if West were to show out on the first Club we’d have the opportunity to slam on the brakes and put Plan B into operation. That is, we could play the Ace and play up to the remaining ♣Q 8 4]