NEIL HAYWARD BRIDGE

Opening Lead: ♥6 to East’s ♥T. What are your plans?

Recommended Line: West seems to hold a reasonable enough five-card heart suit headed by the king and the jack. It would not have taken much more additional strength for West to have overcalled 1♥ when you opened 1♣. The ♠A would have been enough extra to prompt many a player to overcall. So, it’s fair to expect East to hold the ♠A. You therefore cross to dummy via a diamond, and lead the ♠3 towards your hand. If East holds the ♠A, as you surmise, rising with the ♠A sets up the entire spade suit for you. If East plays low, you win, and cross to dummy via another diamond. Then finesse twice in clubs, scoring nine tricks. If you play a spade from hand to dummy at trick two, down you go!