Posted 2021-October-04, 21:51
I’d take a simple line. Win the diamond lead and play a spade, intending to insert the Queen unless the king appears from east.
I’m playing for east to hold a doubleton spade honour and no club Ace.
I don’t care about the club Queen.
East clearly has 7 diamonds…the opening in first seat, red, makes it likely and the deuce lead confirms it.
Now, low to the queen….west can’t do anything if he has Kxx in spades and the club Ace. Winning kills him immediately unless east can ruff the second club. Ducking does him no good either…I pull trump and play spades from the top…endplaying west to break clubs.
It plays the same way if west has Jxx in spades…he gets endplayed in spades.
'one of the great markers of the advance of human kindness is the howls you will hear from the Men of God' Johann Hari