Had a rocky set with Mikey tonight.  The last hand is the one I want back the most, though. 

Playing on a team with Justin and Echognome against some Ecuadorian guys.  We were tied after 16 boards and down 8 with 1 board to play in the 4 board playoff.

T2 / A64 / AK87 / AQ43

I opened 1NT and Mikey transferred to Spades and then bid 3NT.  I was bummed to have a max as we needed a swing on the board and it sounded like 3NT would be cold.

Ten of Hearts was led.

AKQ64 / 32 / J653 / J7

T2 / A64 / AK87 / AQ43

I ducked a couple of Hearts and the first decision is what to pitch on the 3rd Heart.  Pitching the 5th Spade looks silly (the 5th Spade is your 9th top trick if Spades are 3-3.)  Pitching a Diamond looks okay, but if Spades don't break that 4th round of Diamonds might be your only reentry to the board.  I think it's right to pitch a Club and that's what I did.  Righty approved, as he pitched one too.

AKQ64 / - / J653 / J

T2 / - / AK87 / AQ43

Next?

I think it's right to test Diamonds now.  If the Queen is doubleton you have 3 Spades, 1 Heart, 4 Diamonds and 1 Club so you don't need to take risks in the other suits.  I cashed the K-A of Diamonds and everybody followed but the Queen didn't make an appearance.  Righty probably has the Queen, but no sense in continuing them because if Lefty has her, down I go and Spades might have been 3-3 all along.

I turned my attention to Spades next.  I cashed 3 rounds and somewhat to my surprise, RHO showed out on the 3rd round.  Now what?

Here's the hand with the Queen of Spades about to be played.  The Queen of Spades is our 6th trick.  Plan the play.

Q64 / - / J6 / J

- / - / 87 / AQ43

If LHO has the Queen of Diamonds I'm going down.  If he has that card he started with 4-6-3-0 shape and the best I can do is take the Club finesse and concede the rest.

But if RHO has the Queen of Diamonds I'm cold.  LHO MUST have 4-6-2-1 shape.  So the right line at this point is a Club to the ACE and then a Diamond.  Now RHO is in and has nothing but Clubs left.  You can't be stopped from scoring the Queen of Clubs and long Diamond.

Of course, the lazy play is to play a Diamond after the Queen of Spades.  Righty gets in and switches to a Club and you stick in the Queen, losing to Lefty's stiff King.

Lose 5 instead of win 12 or 13 and the match.  Lesson learned.