PP 2nd Final Board 9

Board 9
Dlr N
Vul E-W

	♠ J 9 6 2
	♥ 8
	♦ 7 5
	♣ K J 9 8 5 2
♠ K 10 3		♠ Q 4
♥ K Q J		♥ A 7 5
♦ K Q 6 3		♦ J 10 9 4 2
♣ A 6 4		♣ Q 10 3
	♠ A 8 7 5
	♥ 10 9 6 4 3 2
	♦ A 8
	♣ 7

Franco	North	Andy	South
	3♣	Pass	Pass
Dbl	Pass	3NT	All Pass

[Andy]  I wasn't sure about my auction but was happy with my choice when dummy came down.  On a heart lead, the play appeared to present a mildly interesting problem at first.  If hearts are 4-3, you would like to knock out South's presumed two aces first, and then lose a club trick to North to avoid them getting a heart trick.  However, you can't knock out the ♠A without giving the defense an opportunity to play that suit back at you.  I heard that at least one declarer played spades too early on this hand, although I don't know what the auction at that table was.  At my table it became moot very quickly -- when I knocked out the ♦A South couldn't even try to create a pretense of 4-3 hearts.

 Made 4 for 9/17.