Hand 420 — Unusual 2NT

Play this hand
Dealer
W
User Side
N/S
Contract
4S
Declarer
W
Tricks Makeable
11
Recommended Lead
AD
Vulnerability
East-West
System
SAYC

Planning

Use the Unusual 2NT overcall to show at least 5-5 in the two lowest unbid suits, normally the minors after a major-suit opening.

The Deal

North
6
8 4
A J 10 7 5
K J 10 7 3
West
A K J 8 5
K 6 3
Q 6
9 4 2
East
Q 9 3 2
A J 10 7 2
4 2
A 5
South
10 7 4
Q 9 5
K 9 8 3
Q 8 6
North: 9 HCP, 1-2-5-5
East: 11 HCP, 4-5-2-2
South: 7 HCP, 3-3-4-3 (bal)
West: 13 HCP, 5-3-2-3 (bal)

Bidding Sequence

W N E S
1S2NT3SPass
4SPassPassPass

Final Comments

In 4 spades, weat should first count his losers.
0 spades
1 heart
2 diamonds
1 club
That is 1 too many.
First draw trumps. Then try the heart finesse. If that loses, you can still use the 2 remaining good hearts to discard losing clubs or diamonds from hand.
As the cards lie, south is unlikely to lead away from the diamond king. So you can win with the club ace and continue with the plan of discarding, and will end up with an overtrick.