Play 3 NT

[MrAce]

Whether ducking the first spade or not and which suit to play after that (clubs or hearts) is interesting. I already said which suit and which card I will play after winning the ♠ at T1 or T2

 

First let's assume that we won first ♠. Here is an interesting ending that may become an issue.

 

 

T2- ♥ to 9 won by E with A

T3-Spade continuation is won in hand.

T4-Cashed ♥K, but this time we saw everyone following it !

 

So we knock down club K and East exits with clubs. We cash remaining clubs and come to last 4 cards ending. We lost 2 tricks, and need 3 tricks to make.

 

♠9

♥QT8

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We saw W had originally 2 clubs. We saw W discarded exactly 2♦ and a ♠ on last 3 clubs. How are we planning to continue? We have a dilemma now. If you think W holds ♠Jx and ♥Jx you need to play ♠ and endplay him. But if he holds ♠Jx ♥J ♦x you need to cash ♥Q. If we totally take out the slim possibility that E is Rueful Rabbit or a genius and took the first ♥ with A from AJx(x), I think we should play W to originally started with Jxxx. And pay him off if he knew to duck first ♥ from Jxx.

 

 

I think you are right about my line (ducking the spade) leads to demise,

 

Ducking the first spade is interesting if you continue small ♥ to the 9 afterwards. Seems like only losing deals are when W holds the J and E has 3 or 4 hearts to the ace, which gives him a safe exit with hearts. But this line will succeed if the ♣K is off which makes E to hold AJ ♥ mandatory for his opening.