A defensive problem from the Swiss Pairs at the Lancashire congress.

South	West	North	East
	Pass	Pass	Pass
1	1	1	Pass
3NT	Pass	Pass	Pass

Against three notrump on the above auction you lead the queen of hearts, conventionally asking partner to unblock the jack if he has it.  Unusually partner obliges with the heart jack and declarer ducks.  You follow with a suit preference king of hearts again ducked partner following and a third heart won by declarer while North throws a spade and partner the three of diamonds.  Declarer now plays the two of diamonds to the jack and partner's king.  Partner returns the two of spades which declarer wins quickly with the ace.  Declarer now plays a diamond to the ace, and the jack of diamonds overtaken with the queen and then the ten of diamonds.  What have you discarded and why?

Solution

Declarer's quick play of the spade ace and partner's return of the two suggest that declarer has 1444 shape, in which case you need to hold on to four clubs and a heart, so discard your king and queen of spades and a heart.  The full deal was

Dealer  W			J8653
Game All			32
			AJ9
			863
	KQ4				10972
	KQ1096				J8
	8				K7643
	10752				J4
			A
			A754
			Q1052
			AKQ9

Declarer could still have made the contract by endplaying West; after cashing two top clubs then leading a heart West is forced to lead away from the club ten.