Contract: 4 Lead: ?	NORTH (dummy) J 10 9 J 10 9 A 10 2 K 4 3 2		North­South have 9 easy tricks in hearts. It is clear that if West starts with a diamond, then North­South will score 3 diamond tricks, 3 hearts and 4 spades. Without a diamond lead, a tenth trick seems impossible with the Q sitting over the J and the A over the K. However, North­South will prevail on this layout, no matter what the opening lead.
WEST 7 5 4 3 5 3 Q J 7 6 Q 9 7		EAST 8 6 A 6 4 2 8 5 3 A 10 8 5
	SOUTH A K Q 2 K Q 8 7 K 9 4 J 6

• Case 1: West leads a spade.
  

  A spade lead gives nothing away immediately, leaving declarer with the 9 easy tricks he started with. Declarer wins the spade, and knocks out the A. East returns a diamond (nothing is better) which goes to the J and A. Declarer now pulls trumps and runs spades leaving the illustrated position with East­West still having to make two discards. West is in a bind. Two pitches in the same minor will surrender an extra trick in that suit so suppose West pitches one of each minor. South will cash the K and endplay West with the Q. The analysis is identical on an opening heart lead.			NORTH (dummy) -- -- 2 K 4 3
  		WEST -- -- Q 7 6 Q 9 7		EAST -- -- 8 5 A 10 8 5
  			SOUTH -- -- K 9 J 6

  
  
  
• Case 2: West leads the Q.
  
  The opening lead will be covered by the K and A and East will return a club to South's J. It appears that South has been given his tenth winner on the opening lead, but this is just an illusion. The defense has established a tap suit, so East's heart length has now become a threat.

  Trumps must be drawn before the spades are cashed, and it seems like East will gain control of the hand by forcing South. However, South (if careful) can still make the hand on a dummy reversal.

  	NORTH (dummy) J 10 9 J A 10 2 4 3			Suppose East wins the first heart lead and taps declarer with a high club. Declarer now crosses to dummy's J, ruffs the last club high and cashes two more trumps. Declarer will run the rest of his spades and East has no answer. Declarer will take 1 club trick, 2 diamonds, 2 hearts, 3 spades and 2 club ruffs. The same line materializes if East wins the second heart lead. If East ducks two hearts (see figure) then South cannot play a third trump because East will tap out declarer to establish the fourth defensive trick. Again, declarer can engineer two club ruffs in hand by crossing to the J and A to get the same 10 tricks.
  WEST 7 5 4 3 -- Q J 7 6 9		EAST 8 6 A 6 8 5 3 10 8
  	SOUTH A K Q 2 8 7 K 9 4 --

  
  
  

All of the submissions were excellent! I look forward to seeing more solutions in the coming months!

Honourable Mention

• Larry Meyer (Vancouver, British Columbia)
• Roman Woroch (Delta, British Columbia)
• David Hooey (Port Moody, British Columbia)