This hand came up in a club f2f matchpoint game.  For some reason, my partner did not even sniff at a slam.  If we had been in slam, I am certain that the lead would have been less friendly.

North
AKT
J863
AQJ
J84

South
Q9832
AQ
K8
AQ76


If I had been in slam in a team game, I would have played a toward the J.  Since there is so much work to be done in the round suits, I have to assume that I will bring home the suit.  The play would give me three tricks in the suit when West rises with the K, or East wins and the suit breaks 3-3.  If West has the K and ducks, then I shift to ’s; win or lose, I would have two tricks in each minor. 

However, I am in game with the friendly opening lead of a small , won in hand by the Q.  After playing the AK , and seeing that the finesse was necessary, I could see that the slam would be cold on a neutral lead if the !CK was onside, but would go down if declarer took both finesses and both offside.

Since I was only in game, I chose to play West for both Kings and led a toward the J.  When that held, I reconsidered the hand.   It now had the elements of a Vienna Coup where the count was rectified without actually losing a trick.  I just had to cash the A (tp make the J in dummy a threat(, then play the remaining ’s and ’s ending in dummy.  On the last , West has to pitch from K and Kx .  West actually pitched the small , so the K fell under the A, making the Q good.

The full hand:

          North
          AKT
          J863
          AQJ
          J84

West                    East
5                      J764
KT742              95
T632                9754
KT9                  532

          South
          Q9832
          AQ
          K8
          AQ76