30th May 2018

A deal from a Cheadle Hulme Club Duplicate earlier this month.
Dealer S N-S vulnerable.

S -
H A1095
D J987
C KQJ85
   


   
S 764
H KQ6
D K6543
C A3

South
West
North
East
1D 1S 2C 2S
Pass
Pass
Double Pass
3D Pass
5D Pass
Pass
Pass



After South opened one diamond, West overcalled one spade giving North a wide choice of calls.  Three spades splinter, a take out double or his actual choice of two clubs were all reasonable.   When East raised to two spades and South passed North was able to make a take out double.  South without club or heart support could only repeat his diamonds and North raised to game.  How do you play on a spade lead?

Solution

If you needed four tricks from this trump suit, then small to the king, playing for ace doubleton onside or singleton queen offside is the right play.  Here, having reached a difficult game that probably won't be bid at some tables, it seems best to play the trump suit as safely as possible for three tricks, while maximising chances for four tricks.  Running the nine of diamonds is the best play, only losing to AQ10 in the West hand, whereas playing to the king loses to Q102 in the East hand and to AQ102 in the East hand.