"Somehow we landed in Six Notrump" by David Bird

Just got this book in the mail. The first half of this book draws from 6NT contracts in fact (Meckstroth's 6NT Tim Bourke's 6NT Ely Culbertson's 6NT etc.) , the second from fiction, the famous Bird characters, the monks of St.Titus, the missionaries, the Witchdoctor and the Parrot, and also the Rabbi.
Incidentally, having bid my share of 6NT without two cashing tricks (two aces typically), it is enlightening to see how often the world's best do the same. Sometimes the defender with the two tricks is not on lead and is gnashing his teeth as you bring home twelve tricks on a favorable lead.
There are several squeezes without the count, but by far my favorite hand in the book is the following losing card trick. Brother Paulo is at the helm after 2C-2D-4NT-6NT, the lead Dq.

Dlr: Vul: J52 10865 65 AJ52 6 J932 QJ10984 83 1098743 74 void 109764 AKQ AKQ AK732 KQ

Over to David Bird.
"Eyebrows were raised around the table as East showed out on the diamond lead, discarding a spade. Paulo won with the DA and marked time by cashing two rounds of spades. Further information came to light when West showed out on the second spade, discarding a diamond. When the three top hearts were played, the jack refused to fall and East discarded another spade on the third round. Paulo sat back in his chair. He had an easy eleven tricks by overtaking on the second round of clubs. How could he make a twelfth trick?
Brother Paulo soon found the answer. West held the guard in both red suits so he would be squeezed if a blacksuit winner could be played from dummy. He cashed the CK and overtook the CQ with dummy's Ace. These cards remained.

Dlr: Vul: J 10 6 J5 none J J1098 none 109 none none 1097 Q none K732 none

'Club five, please,' said Brother Paulo.
East won the trick and the Italian flipped the SQ onto the table. The novice in the West seat discarded a diamond and his partner then had to play one or other black suit giving the loead to dummy. West threw another diamond on the club return. When Brother Paulo cashed dummy's remaining winner, the SJ, West had no card to spare. If he discarded the HJ , dummy's HT would be good. He chose instead to throw yet another diamond and Paulo claimed the last two tricks with the DK and the D7 in his hand. "
....." 'It is strange but a 6-0 diamond break was more helpful than a 4-2 break' he said."

A sensational team defense

Dlr: S Vul: Nil A103 10943 AK54 106 KQJ954 KQ85 8 83 87 J2 QJ3 AKQ754 62 A76 109762 J92

In an otherwise lackluster session, partner VilasG (North) and I (South) produced this sensational defense. LHO became declarer at FOUR SPADES (1S-2C-2S-4S, we were silent).
Partner led the DK, I gave count, partner switched to the 6 of clubs! Declarer won Ace and played a spade to the Jack which partner ducked, partner won the next spade with the Ace, and played a second round of clubs. Declarer ruffed a diamond to hand, drew the last trump, and advanced the HK. It was my turn to be in the spotlight, I ducked this to stop the HJ from becoming an entry. Partner correctly throws away the DA in the ending, and partner's Heart comes into its own, as we make two hearts, spade Ace, and Diamond King for our four tricks.

An incredible ending in 3NT

Dlr: N Vul: Nil KQJ10 Q9 7 KJ8632 85 1072 KQ632 Q105 A742 K86 985 A74 863 AJ543 AJ104 9

My partner opened ONE CLUB in first seat, i bid ONE HEART, partner rebid ONE SPADE, I bid TWO DIAMONDS (fourth suit forcing, not to game) my LHO doubled this, partner bid THREE CLUBS, and I bid the 22 point THREE NOTRUMP, all passing.

My LHO gets off to the lead of the S8, RHO wins and plays the D9, DJ, DQ, D7.

T3 is a small heart, I try the nine, King, Ace.

T4 I play a heart to the Queen in dummy. It seems that hearts might be 3-3.

T5,6,7 Three more rounds of spades, as I pitch a diamond from hand, RHO follows throughout, and LHO pitches two small diamonds.

A very interesting 6 card ending has been reached. I have lost two tricks and need to make four of the last six, lead in dummy. If hearts break, as I suspect they do, I have the neccessary tricks in my hand but need a stepping stone.

Dlr: Vul: none none none KJ8632 none 8 K6 Q105 none 10 85 A74 none J54 A10 9

If I play a small club toward my 9, the following can happen.
A) West wins and plays a club, I have to put in the Jack, A1) East wins Ace and gives dummy all the four clubs A2) East wins Ace while I pitch the Ten of diamonds and gives me four red tricks.
A3) East ducks the CA, as I pitch the diamond, but wins trick ten perforce as I pitch a heart and has only red cards and my last three red cards are winners. OR
B) East flies in on the 9 , and B1) plays a club when I make with overtrick, or B2) plays a Diamond, when I win with the Ace, and try the hearts which give me three tricks when they break.