[lamford]

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West leads the king of spades against your contract of 3NT. How would you play?

[pescetom]

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[Cyberyeti]

After I ducked the first spade, what does W do next ?

[mikeh]

Assuming it’s imp scoring, duck the first spade. Actually, duck at any scoring…west can’t switch to any other suit that threatens you…if he switches to hearts, you win and duck a diamond into west.

Watch the carding, including east’s signal…make sure one knows whether it’s count or attitude, if the opps know.

Ask west if he’s read Bird and Anthias on notrump leads…only half joking. Last week, my partner (who has, along with me, read the book) led Kx hearts after 1m P 3N all pass. I had passed 1m with AQ10xx in hearts, no other hcp, and at adverse heat. An enterprising west should lead Kx in spades if that’s all he has.

Tell us what happened on trick one and on trick two and I’ll decide my line. Against most opps, if spades are continued I should have a good idea of how they lie. Btw, if east is about to win the second spade, I’d consider winning to guard against a possibly dangerous heart switch. I might want to be at the table but I absolutely need to know who played what on the first two tricks.

[lamford]

If you duck the opening lead, as you surely should, East will play the four (normal attitude) and West will continue with the queen, then East will play the eight.

[lamford]

If you duck the opening lead, as you surely should, East will play the four (normal attitude) and West will continue with the queen, then East will play the eight.

[Cyberyeti]

 lamford, on 2024-June-19, 06:06, said:

If you duck the opening lead, as you surely should, East will play the four (normal attitude) and West will continue with the queen, then East will play the eight.

It appears W has ♠KQJxx, so I will win the second one, and play K and run the 9♦. If W had ♠KQ and E Jxxxx and discouraged, well played, if spades were 4-3 I'm still home.

You can ensure the contract by ducking again, but most of the time you're just chucking an IMP or some MPs

[lamford]

 Cyberyeti, on 2024-June-19, 06:25, said:

It appears W has ♠KQJxx, so I will win the second one, and play K and run the 9♦. If W had ♠KQ and E Jxxxx and discouraged, well played, if spades were 4-3 I'm still home.

You can ensure the contract by ducking again, but most of the time you're just chucking an IMP or some MPs

I should specify IMPs. I don't think the spades are necessarily 5-2 and I would guarantee the contract. If they are 4-3, they have to switch to a heart to stop you making an overtrick.