This is a deal from my daily rubber bridge session at the Deccan Liberal Club.

While the system used at Liberal is Strong Club, I have modified the bidding to Standard.




Yes, 3 Nt is cold on any lie of the cards, but North didn't like his diamond holding and raised South's 3 to 4.

South won the first trick and played three rounds of hearts.
The hearts divided 3-3 and South ended up with 11 tricks.

Was South lucky that the opponents' hearts broke?

Much luckier than he thought! He doesn't need the 3-3 break. All he has to do to ensure the contract is cash K, Q, and start the clubs. Let the man with 4 trumps ruff, let him cash a diamond. South wins the next trick, enters dummy with the A and claims 10 tricks.