Exerting Pressure–Solution

Here was the original problem:

East/West cash the top two ♥️s and then shift to a trump. You draw trumps in three rounds {West had two and East had three). You can count on ten top tricks– six ♣️s, two ♦️s, and two ♠️s. 

What is your plan to get that critical eleventh trick?

Solution–
Your only play for this hand is a ♠️/♦️ squeeze.  Your threat cards are the 10 ♠️ and the 8♦️.  You only have one loser left so it is time to run your ♣️s.  While you run the ♣️s you will watch carefully for the Q and J of ♠️s.  Here is the ending you are playing for

When you play your last trump (6♣️) both defenders will have to come down to five cards.  East cannot be squeezed since she has already shown up with six ♥️s and 3 ♣️s.  West will not be able to protect both ♠️s and ♦️s.  On the 6 ♣️ you can throw any small card from dummy.  Now cash K♠️ and A♠️.  At this point Dummy is on lead

You have been watching carefully for the QJ♠️ so you know if the 10 ♠️ is good.  If the 10 ♠️ is not good then lead a ♦️ to your hand and hope that the squeeze has worked.

Here was the entire deal:

On this deal West was squeezed.  When he came down to three cards, he could not keep three ♦️s and a ♠️.  Even if East had started with J x x in ♠️s, West was likely to discard a ♦️ from 10 9 6 and keep the Q♠️.

Here is what West was faced with when you lead your last trump:
 

On the 6♣️ West must part with a ♠️ or a ♦️.  You next cash K♠️ and A♠️.  If West kept three ♦️s then the 10♠️ is good.  If West did not keep three ♦️s then you will win the last three ♦️ tricks.

East is known to have started with six ♥️s and three ♣️s–hence exactly four ♠️/♦️s. For the squeeze to work East needs to have exactly two ♠️s, any three small ♠️s, or any four small ♠️s. Probabilities for these holdings are 14/33, 1/9, and 1/99. These add up to a 54/99 ≈ 55% chance of the squeeze working. Bidding and making 5♣️s gave North/South a 94% board.

If the squeeze had not worked then your best backup strategy is to blame partner for his/her specious 3♠️ bid.

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