[1eyedjack]

Scoring: MP

You are East
N....E....S....W
1♣..1♥..1♠..4♥
4♠...P....P....P
Lead ♣9 won by ♣A
Trick 2: ♥2, ♥J winning

---

[rogerclee]

diamond

[1eyedjack]

Yes, Diamond is right. I was expecting the answer to be a question "what do South and West play under the ♥J" to which the answer should be ♥9 (South) and ♥8 (West, if he is awake). Perhaps it is not that interesting a hand. I was a bit undecided which player to present as the problem. Here is the full hand:

Scoring: MP

You are East
N....E....S....W
1♣..1♥..1♠..4♥
4♠...P....P....P
Lead ♣9 won by ♣A
Trick 2: ♥2, ♥J winning

---

If South reads ♣9 as doubleton then it may be best to duck trick 1 to East, and maybe he needs so much going right he should hope that this is the case, as it does slightly improve his chances, but in which case he is straight off as the cards lie. That (doubleton) does seem rather unlikely, although if South is going to rise with the Ace on the assumption that it is a singleton then perhaps it is not so bad a lead from a doubleton.
Anyway, ♣A wins trick 1 and perhaps it is quite a good move by declarer to cut loose with ♥2 at trick 2. As the cards lie, his only chance is that East sleepily allows West to Win trick 2, or sleepily fails to switch to ♦ and trick 3 (perhaps compounded by West sleepily playing his lowest ♥ on trick 2).

[Mosene]

doesn't a second heart also set the contract?

[Mosene]

Actually - given the spade spots, a club also works I think. King of clubs, low club ruffed. Now exit with a heart and declarer must ruff on the board. declarer gets back to hand with a diamond and plays a spade honor. Defender covers with the king and declarer cannot use the clubs - as defender still has the spade 9. So, I think anything but a spade works. (I do think the diamond is the technically right play, however).