[DavidKok]

Yesterday I struggled to find the best line in this 3NT contract. There are multiple decision points, multiple chances that can be combined, and no guaranteed path to victory. Please explain in detail how you would play this hand, or what information you need to proceed. Hand rotated to make South declarer.

---

We're playing IMPs. West leads the ♥3, 2nd/4th. Plan the play.

[P_Marlowe]

Scoring may matter, but my guess is MP?

[DavidKok]

Sorry, edited to clarify. IMP (Butler) scoring.

[P_Marlowe]

Ok, I will give it a try

#1 we have 3 tricks in the bank, and need 6 more
#2 3 tricks can be developed in clubs, no communication issues
2 tricks can be developed in diamonds, there may be communication issues
1 spade can be developed in spade

I would start with the heart of 10, low from QJxx is normal, Q from QJ9, if Q/J
are distributed, the 10 will not make the trick, but we may gain information
about who holds what

If it does not hold, I will duck, my guess is,they will continue with hearts, after
which I will develop clubs, I may need to preserve the 8 of clubs as an entry

I will than play small to the King of diamonds, and diamonds back.
If they ever try spade, I will finesse, developing my spade trick.

[WasWinM]

Once the clubs are established, I need 3 more tricks before they can get their 5. I start by playing the heart 10 in case the lead is from QJ32. Presuming that doesn't work, I duck the J or Q from RHO, win the return, and play the small clubs to the J. If that holds, I place the ace with LHO. I lead a small diamond from the K toward the QJ. If RHO rises, I have my 3 tricks. When he ducks, I place RHO with the ace.
I revert to clubs to force out the ace. Things can change now, either a heart return or a spade switch. Either way, I finesse the spade. It loses, I win either a heart of spade return, and play to the king of diamonds. I end with 2 spades, 2 hearts, 3 clubs and 2 diamonds. while they have captured two aces, the spade king, and 1 heart. It seems to me he key to this hand is either spade finesse working or getting an opponent into the Hobson's choice of either beating the air with his ace or letting you establish a trick while not losing a tempo.

Of course this is all provided the aces are located as I proposed. If it is otherwise, I'll have to try for 3 spade tricks or even 4 if I can find a diamond/spade squeeze. Lots of ways to go on this one or to go down on this one, LoL.

[mikeh]

Interesting hand. I played a similar 3N today: multiple options, no indication from the lead or the bidding. I misguessed…I still think it was a reasonable play but I was slated for down 2 until they misdefended.

LHO is more likely to hold H9xx than QJxx, although Jxxx is such a bad lead in theory that I think it close.

The 8 will be best if LHO has Q9xx or J9xx, since we maybe set up enough tricks without AST gaining the lead in time to hurt us. Picture west with Kxx Q9xx Axx xxx. We top east’s J with the ace, lead a low diamond. West is very unlikely to pop and even if he does, he has no safe exit. His partner’s only entry is the club Ace and switching to a club is giving up. We get 6 minor tricks and (at least) 3 major winners.

I’m not down yet if east wins the first diamond. Maybe west has no entry, or hearts are 4-3 and the spade hook wins.

I know tte line I’ll take if RHO plays the 9 at trick one, but it’s late and I’ll post it if I learn that this happened.