[pescetom]

The bidding of this board was described here, but nobody hung around to discuss the play.
It's probably more pertinent to promising beginners anyway, because the eternal intermediates will always get it wrong.

MP

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West leads ♣Q, the dummy comes down and you can see that if trumps split 2-1 you have 13 tricks (right?).
You take in hand and lead ♥A: West show out with a small spade.
Your revised plan to take all the remaining tricks?

[Ranmit]

I see 2 potential lines, but neither look promising...

1. Assume W has 5 diamonds (or fewer, but with both honors) - in this case, it is a simple squeeze against W.
2. Assume W has a doubleton diamond honor, in which case cash the AK♦ and take a ruffing finesse through E.

I suppose I could play 3 clubs first - if W shows out it is an easy decision. If both follow I think I play for line 2. Does W lead of the Q♣ indicate anything (QJ10, or length)?

I do feel like I am missing something obvious though!

[pescetom]

Ranmit, on 2024-October-31, 16:05, said:

I see 2 potential lines, but neither look promising...

1. Assume W has 5 diamonds (or fewer, but with both honors) - in this case, it is a simple squeeze against W.
2. Assume W has a doubleton diamond honor, in which case cash the AK♦ and take a ruffing finesse through E.

I suppose I could play 3 clubs first - if W shows out it is an easy decision. If both follow I think I play for line 2. Does W lead of the Q♣ indicate anything (QJ10, or length)?

I do feel like I am missing something obvious though!

Let's start with the really obvious (but not to most N/B).
Can you count 13 tricks if both follow to ♥A?

[Ranmit]

Ah of course, As long as W has strictly 6 spades, one can just continue with the original plan - ruff N's losers in hand before drawing the last trump.

[thepossum]

I was going to say a simple squeeze did not sound like NB stuff
I'm thinking cross ruff but too tired to even think