[lamford]

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Partner leads the six of spades, you win with the ace and declarer plays the two. Over to you. Lady Milne, International Women's Event.

[Cyberyeti]

Declarer appears to have ♠KQ2 and 4 hearts, you could play him for KQ2, Qxxx, KQx, Axx or similar and return a club, allowing you to fly the heart ace and give partner the ruff where he he then has a club to cash.

This is wrong if declarer actually has KQx, Q98x, xx, AK109 but partner might have led K♦ and declarer might not have ugraded.

Also why hasn't declarer dropped a high spade under the ace ?

[LBengtsson]

 Cyberyeti, on 2022-April-23, 14:36, said:

Declarer appears to have ♠KQ2 and 4 hearts, you could play him for KQ2, Qxxx, KQx, Axx or similar and return a club, allowing you to fly the heart ace and give partner the ruff where he he then has a club to cash.

This is wrong if declarer actually has KQx, Q98x, xx, AK109 but partner might have led K♦ and declarer might not have ugraded.

Also why hasn't declarer dropped a high spade under the ace ?

Agree. The danger is declarer has ♠KQ2 ♥Qxxx ♦KQxx ♣Ax and guesses right after the ruff. So I would lead a small ♣ at trick 2. It is as though declarer is inviting the ruff. Ignore it. It can wait.

[mikeh]

I’d be embarrassed as declarer if I held KQ2 Q10xx KQxx Ax and played the spade 2.

But even good players take their eye off of the ball on occasion. Anything but a club back means we’ve done the same thing


As for Cyber’s concern, I don’t think many would firstly ‘upgrade’ a medium 14 count ( if this is even close to an upgrade, they’re not playing 15-17 and should be penalized) and even those who inexplicably do usually wouldn’t then show a maximum by bidding over 2S: normal bridge is to pass it around to partner who can and should reopen if we have game.

Thus I am confident that winning the spade and returning a club is clearly optimal.

Now if declarer has KQ2 Qxxxx KQx KJ or KQ2 Qxxxx KQ KJx I’m the one with egg on my face, but I’m willing to pay to that.

[lamford]

Indeed it is case of timeo Danaos et dona ferentes. Declarer has failed to hide the two, so that you know partner has led a singleton, and does not mind the ruff. You should switch to a club, as most say.

Not found at any of the four tables in the Lady Milne.