I just arrived home after staying with my sister in New York. While I was gone, this deal at the club came up:
Puritan Bridge Club Braintree MA
Session: Open Pairs Date: 12/27/2008
BD: 27 S-K2
Dlr: S H-J82
Vul: None D-KJT98432
C-
S-AJT84 S-9
H-Q6 H-AKT973
D-Q7 D-A65
C-K853 C-AJT
S-Q7653
H-54
D-
C-Q97642
Assume that the contract is 6NT by West. North's opening lead is the H2, a lead that gives nothing away. There are many solutions to the problem. Who can come up with the best one?
I can tell you right now that no one reached 6NT by West. (A low spade lead defeats 6NT by East) The contracts were 3DX by North, down 3 or 4, or a heart game or slam by East with its own (ahem) hazards, or 3NT (direction unknown at this time) once. You can judge for yourself by looking at the recap from NS's point of view:
27> 9 6 1 6 10- 4 1 6 8 10- 1 3
---- ---- 100 -450 -800 -450 150 -460 -800 -450 50 150 -800 -500