Two chances are better than one

There comes a time in the play of the hand wherein the whole contract hinges on a certain lie of the cards. This is the point often called the critical point and many a contract in bridge are won or lost on how the declarer handles the critical point of play. Of course by then the declarer has a few inferential clues available, which could help him in deciding which way the contract should go.
The opening lead and the dummy give the declarer a distinct advantage in gauging the distribution of the opponents. But more than that if the defenders have competed in the bidding, the declarer can very easily place some key cards in their proper perspective.
Bridge is in the long run a mental exercise of reasoning, logical deduction and picking the inferential clues available for exercising proper sound and correct judgement in the placing of the cards and the break of suits.
Our problem for today is not too difficult to resolve as it is a problem of play and in bridge play, declarer has ample time looking at half the deck to plan his timing in play according to the need of the contract. Inevitably the success rate is pretty high especially if the contract hinges on a certain line without which there is no respite. Of course the squeeze play and the more subtle devices available for successful bridge play are sometimes difficult to spot in the heat of the moment. But more often than not in most of the hands the problem boils down to a decision at the critical juncture of play.
The north south hands are as under:
The bidding went as under:
The opening lead from west is six of spades. Declarer's JS holds with 4S coming from east. As usual let us analyse the prospects of the declarer in 3NT and also place you in the south seat to pick your line of play in the making of 3NT. Already in with 2 spade tricks and a diamond trick along with 3 top clubs you need to develop 3 sure tricks to enable you to make 3NT. The hearts are an option if you can manage to play twice from dummy towards QJ832 in hand based on split heart honours and the suit breaking 3-3. But the vital question that crops up is that even if hearts would be worth 3 tricks in the long run, you may well be short in your timing, for with honour tripleton in hearts, east can win an early trick in the suit and continue spades, then you would need east with both honours tripleton or a 4-4 spade break along with perhaps a favourable diamond break as well.
But as south you would lean definitely on the club suit to help you in the making of the contract. Of course if clubs are breaking normally 3-2, the contract is a sitter. But with no side entry in dummy, safely play comes in the picture. How about giving up a club trick first so that you ensure 5 clubs tricks. But then are 5 enough? for 2 spade trick and 1 diamond will give you only 3, unless you go for the diamond finesse. But it is here at this juncture that the good declarer applies logical reasoning to resolve the issue. For you see if you duck a club and have the spade ace knocked out, the diamond finesse if failing could spell instant defeat making you regret all the more if clubs were breaking 3-3 all the time.
Do you see what needs to be done at the critical moment of play? Yes, at trick 2 after winning JS in dummy, it is mandatory for you to take the diamond finesse first. If it wins, you apply the safety play in clubs by ducking a club, otherwise you need to rely on taking all 6 club tricks. Thus two chances are always better than one.

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North     South

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QJ          A52

75           52

642          AQ

AKQ763       52

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North  East  South         West

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1C       P     1H

2C       P     3NT     ALL PASS

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