Every card played provides information to other players; if you can exploit that, your thinking can be expanded.

Bidding
Dealer: South
N/S Game

NorthEastSouthWest
1SNB
1NTNB4S

At Duplicate Pairs, South might well raise to 3NT. It is unlikely that North will provide a ruffing opportunity, so no-trumps may play just as well as spades. A game-forcing jump to 3H is also a possibility, although a 4-4 heart fit may lead to the poorest of all if trumps do not break. In both 3NT and 4S, nine tricks are simple, but how might declarer find the decisive tenth trick? 

West led J♦, South ducked in dummy, and East took his K♦, before switching to Q♥. Declarer ducked, before winning the continuation in hand. He played out five rounds of trumps and gave up another heart. However, East kept his heart length and South could never reach his A♦ in dummy.

The information from the opening lead provides the solution to the diamond entry problem. Assuming that it is not some speculative short-suit lead, West is marked with 10♦. Therefore, at trick 1, when East wins with K♦, South should drop his Q♦. This now allows the declarer to draw trumps and lead 4♦. When West follows low, South finesses by playing dummy’s 9♦. When this holds, he can cash A♦, throwing a heart loser from hand. This brings home 4S, but the same play also provides the overtrick in 3NT — which then provides the optimum score.

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