[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

[Cyberyeti]

Doubleton jack or less likely K of spades with E is another possiblility, but not sure you can do everything.

KJxxxx
void
QJ..
QJ.. (presumed by the lead)

looks like a 1♠ overcall not 2♠.

Quote

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.

you need to be very careful with your entries and timing, and it may not be good enough.

3 rounds of diamonds, do the QJ drop ? QJx with E will do you.
2 further rounds of clubs ruffing
spade to the ace
ruff the last diamond and as long as E follows you're OK, if he pitches his second spade he promotes his trump
cash your last trump in hand, ruff a spade draw trumps and claim

you can't do everything, either the crossruff or the squeeze lines but not both.