[matmat]

Scoring: IMP

3NT by S
simple 2N-3N auction.

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more fun if you don't go the double dummy solver route, i guess.

[rbouskila]

Incorrect. WAY fun with a double dummy solver.

[nigel_k]

I'll defend.

Low diamond lead looks best. There's no point setting up clubs with no entry so declarer will play on one of the majors. I don't think it matters which one. West wins and plays ace and another diamond, so they don't get thrown in with diamonds later. Declarer then has to try clubs. The key play is for East to play jack or ten under the king - that way declarer cannot concede the club trick to East. I don't see a way for declarer to cash enough winners to exert pressure on West without using up dummy's entry and then West can discard clubs.

[JLOGIC]

Alright...

The lead must be a diamond, since everything else loses on force.

Playing clubs will lose on force, so I'm going to try to set up my 8th and hope for something interesting. Playing a spade looks better than a heart since it keeps communications fluid, and it gives RHO a squeeze threat etc.

If LHO makes the normal looking play of a diamond back, he is automatically strip squeezed (I cash 2 spades, he must pitch a club, I cash 2 clubs and play a diamond). Normal technique in this spot is to cash the ace of diamonds to remove the squeeze card (take note of this since it comes up irl a lot imo!).

After ace and a diamond, LHO can pitch a club if I try to cash spades, so the squeeze line wont work. My best hope is just to set up clubs now. So, if I cash the club king, RHO must unblock the jack or ten! If he does not, I can duck a club to RHO. If he unblocks, however, LHO can force a club entry, so that won't work.

Playing a heart at trick 2 seems like exactly the same thing, so I'm going with defend.

[JLOGIC]

pfft, pwned by nigel_k in speed, this is why I don't usually post my work on play or defend At least his analysis agrees with mine!

[rbouskila]

I'm not going to spoil matmat's fun by giving you guys everything i deep finessed out of this hand, but you are both right so far -- however, what if East, having figured out to unblock, unblocks BOTH jack and ten of clubs?

you guys can try to figure out what happens.

Oh, and matmat's line led to an even wackier ending.

[Little Kid]

Too bad North gets squeezed in the run of the ♦s. Otherwise both West and East need to unblock on the ♣K, now that would be cool!