Hand 330 — Small slam

Play this hand
Dealer
S
User Side
N/S
Contract
6NT
Declarer
S
Tricks Makeable
12
Recommended Lead
JS
Vulnerability
None
System
SAYC

Planning

To keep the bidding alive, avoid bids that invite a pass from partner.

The Deal

North
K 4
Q 10 6 5
K Q J 8
A 7 2
West
J 10 9 8
J 9
A 10 6
Q 10 9 6
East
7 6 5 2
8 7 3 2
9 4 3
5 4
South
A Q 3
A K 4
7 5 2
K J 8 3
North: 15 HCP, 2-4-4-3 (bal)
East: 0 HCP, 4-4-3-2 (bal)
South: 17 HCP, 3-3-3-4 (bal)
West: 8 HCP, 4-2-3-4 (bal)

Bidding Sequence

S W N E
1NTPass2CPass
2DPass4NTPass
5HPass6NTPass
PassPass

Final Comments

Lets see what we've got.
3 spades
3 hearts
2 diamonds
2 clubs.
We are not OK on the face of it.
We should knock out the AD ASAP while we still have stoppers in the other suits.
The ace is placed favourably, and we can now make 3 diamonds.
As the card lie, the JH also drops, giving us 4 hearts and our 12th trick.