Which idiocy is more likely"

[kenrexford]

IMPs.

 

You are in 2M, vulnerable, sawed off. When dummy hits, it looks like -2, -500.

 

The auction was:

 

P-P-P-1♣-

1♠-2♦-2♠-X-

all pass

 

In diamonds, LHO's suit, you have J72 on dummy and K9 in hand.

 

The opponents are playing Mini-Roman, so there is no inference from the failure to open 2♦. There is an inference that, despite being in the finals of the top flight of the KO against presumably decent opponents, the opponents must actually be idiots, because they play Mini-Roman, but that's another issue.

 

Anyway, RHO is in rather quickly in the play. With a sufficient number of trumps still out to be of concern, you get the strange switch by LHO of the diamond Queen, a welcome surprise because you had no way to avoid a diamond loser, and that just disappeared, unless the Queen is stiff.

 

So, you cover, won by LHO with the Ace.

 

Now, a diamond comes back. However, to your great shock and disbelief, the diamond returned is a small one. If RHO does not hold the 10 and cannot ruff this, you just made this ridiculous contract, quite an impressive IMP pickup on air. But, why would LHO not lead the 10?

 

WTF?!?!?!?

 

So, what do you make of this, and what do you play?

[Guest Jlall]

I would just duck it, at the very least you have the chance that RHO had Q8 doubleton, and people do things like not returning the ten all the time. Go for it.