From the Hamilton Daily Bulletin: On Board 22 from the match against Brazil in round 6 the younger brother, Morten Lund Madsen, had a brilliant defence:

Dealer East. E/W Game K J 4 8 7 6 K 10 6 2 A Q 3 2 A Q 7 6 5 Q 3 2 A K 4 J 9 8 5 4 A Q 4 K J 9 5 10 6 10 9 8 3 J 10 9 5 7 8 7 4 2 West North East South Morten Lars 1 Pass 1NT Pass 2NT Pass 3NT All Pass

Against the same contract in the Closed Room North chose to lead a diamond, so the Danish West had an easy task. Morten found the heart lead (1st hurdle) thereby giving nothing away. Declarer won in dummy, and after the diamond ace he continued with the queen. Morten ducked (2nd hurdle).

Declarer now shifted to the 10 from dummy. Morten ducked again (3rd hurdle). A second club went to the queen, and declarer took the heart shift in hand and tried a spade to the queen - successfully, but Morten had unblocked the jack (4th hurdle). Finally declarer tried the A, and Morten fulfilled his brilliancy, unblocking the king (5th hurdle). This defence left declarer with no chance for an endplay. One off.

Can you make 3NT double dummy against best defence? I think the contract is always beatable. Do you agree?

IBPA Editor's note: No. The play starts: , Q wins, 10 wins. Then, double-dummy, declarer succeeds by setting up spades: duck a spade, win a second heart, duck a spade.