[Stefan_O]

When you see dummy, maybe you wish you were in a slam. And with favorable layout, you may have 13 tricks.

But if not so favorable (assuming East has 6 spades), you might first want to duck the lead of SJ, in case West wins a trick along the way?

And should you attack the diamonds first or clubs first?

What is you plan at MP play?

[robert2734]

Duck a spade. Win the continuation. Unblock ♦ KQ. If the suit is 5-1 I have to abandon it and take the club finesse. If everybody follows, I go to the board with the ♣ ace and cash the ♦ ace. If everybody follows, I have eleven tricks and east in a show up squeeze. I cash my red tricks and then lead a club to my hand. When east follows low, his last card is a spade honor. If east has the fourth diamond, I take the club finesse and hope the fourth club sets up. If west has the fourth diamond, I let him have it. Win the heart return and I have the show up squeeze.

[billw55]

I will duck spades twice. People do bid a weak 2 on a 5 card suit once in a while. Also this gives east an opportunity for error, continuing the suit and giving me a free trick. Of course a good player should never make this error, but I have seen worse. This gives up the chance for 12 tricks but that seems optimistic anyway.

After that, ♦KQ and set up a trick or two there if available. Decide on plays in clubs later (options include throwing east in to lead a spade).

[Winstonm]

Win the second spade, KQ of diamonds. If both follow, I lead two hearts, ending in dummy. Cash the high diamond. If RHO turns out to have the length, I assume his 6241 and make the safety play in clubs of low to the king then low to the 9. If LHO has the diamond length, I take the club finesse into his hand. Anyway, that is my general plan at trick 1.

[Phil]

I'm not ducking two spades at mps since I have a good chance of 1S 3H 4D and 2C or possibly 3C and/or 5d. Nor am I winning the 1st because taking 13 tricks looks pretty remote and damages my chances for 11.

If I get some unexpected news like lho shifting when spades are 7-1 or diamonds 5-1 I'll have to reevaluate.

[PhantomSac]

Ducking one spade seems pretty clear, sorry pard if I had 13.

After that cash 2 diamonds, cross to the HA and drive the diamond (if necessary), then try a club to the jack.

[msjennifer]

My line of play is the same as Winstonm.