You (south) open 1 spade, and west overcalls 2 hearts. Partner que bids 3H, and east raises to 4 hearts. Sensing many tricks are available, you launch into Blackwood. Partner bids 5 hearts (2 without the queen), and you settle into 6 spades.

West leads the 9 of diamonds.

You have many choices, what's best? Diamond finesse, club finesse, ruffing finesse of the heart queen, something else?

Thanks again to Grant Vance for the problem and analysis.

Answer: All of these finesses have merit and might or might not work. But if West has the heart Ace for his bid, you're cold!

You have a classic heart/club endplay. But first you must eliminate the diamonds. And you have entries in trumps to do so. Win the diamond Ace, ruff a diamond high, cross in spades, ruff the last diamond. Cross with a second spade, and lead a heart from the dummy. If west has the heart ace, she's cooked! A club is a free finesse. A heart either wins for a club pitch, or forces the Queen, setting up the heart Ten for a club pitch, or a diamond gives you a sluff/ruff.

Subtle points:

• East might have the heart Ace. That's why you want to lead hearts from the dummy. East shouldn't duck, but people make mistakes. Give em a chance! If East does win the heart Ace, you're not down yet.
• You can still take a trump finesse on the heart Queen or a club finesse. I'd take the club finesse, since I'd hope West had at least ONE honor for her bid. But cash one top club honor first. You don't want to lose to a stiff Queen!