Lose inevitable losers early

You are in 3NT. The Jack of spades is led.

You have 25 points and Dummy has a nice 6 card suit. You can count on 1 spade trick, 2 hearts and 2 clubs. That’s 5 so you need at least 4 tricks from diamonds. Setting up these should be your first priority.

First, play low from dummy on the JS lead. East will duck. Take this with your K (in case East has Ax alone).

You are going to have to concede one diamond trick. (Whenever you have 8 cards in a suit, 68% of the time the other 5 cards will fall 3-2). DO THIS NOW by playing low cards from both hands on the first round of diamonds. You will now have a sure entry to your long suit with your second diamond.

DO NOT play AD then KD then lose one. If you do, you will make only 7 tricks against proper defence. East will hold up the spade ace until it captures your spade queen, likewise East will play the club ace only when the King is under it.