Success comes before work only in the dictionary. To set up a long suit may require planning and care, but at a grand slam, you should be willing to make the effort.

At seven spades, South took the ace of clubs and saw 12 easy tricks. Almost surely, he needed a trick from dummy’s long hearts. He led a trump to dummy, took the A-K of hearts and ruffed a heart with the ace of trumps.

When West discarded, South led a second trump to dummy, but he was doomed when East showed out. If South ruffed a fourth heart, West would overruff and cash a club. Down one was the best declarer could do.

The winning play needs foresight. After South wins the first club, he unblocks the K-Q of diamonds, takes the ace of hearts, leads a trump to dummy and discards his low heart on the ace of diamonds. He ruffs a heart, leads a trump to dummy and ruffs a heart with the ace of trumps.

South can then return a trump to dummy and pitch two clubs on the king and the good fifth heart.

Daily question >> You hold: ? K Q J ? K 10 7 3 2 ? A 8 7 ? A J. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one heart, he bids one spade and you temporize with a “fourth-suit” bid of two clubs. Partner then bids 2NT. What do you say?

Answer >> Slam is possible. Though partner may have a minimum hand, his bidding hasn’t denied a bit of extra strength. Bid 4NT. Since no trump suit is agreed, this bid is a “quantitative” invitation to slam, not ace-asking.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

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