It looks like hearts are 5–3 so you can’t let them in until you score at least nine tricks! If the diamonds come in, you’re playing for overtricks, but what if they don’t? What if you play the ♦K and ♦A and someone shows out? It’s something you should be thinking about even when not taking
a quiz.
If diamonds are 4–1, you’re going to need four club tricks. With the lead in dummy, the best play for four club tricks is low to the 10 catering to Q–x with East and still picking up the suit if it is 3–3. However, you should cash the ♣A before playing a second diamond. It can’t hurt and it might save the day if West has a stiff queen. You can still pick up Q–x with East, so you have the best of both worlds.
The gist here is to avoid two careless plays: (1) not cashing a high club before leading a second diamond to dummy; (2) not leading the ♣J once you are in dummy having discovered diamonds are not 3–2. Did you pass the test?
