Long time no bridge hand!
Here is a puzzle.
You end up in 4S playing a team game (bidding and hands below, you are South).
| IMPS N/S | Partner ♠ xxx ♥ xxx ♦ Kxx ♣ Kxxx | |
| You ♠ QJT9xx ♥ Qx ♦ AQx ♣ AQ |
| W | N | E | S |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1S | |||
| P | 2S | P | 4S |
| P | P | P |
LHO leads a low heart to RHO's Ace, who leads a heart back to LHO's King and a third heart which you ruff.
You have lost two hearts and have two spades to lose. Situation is hopeless. But, is there anything you can do? If you want to think about it, don't scroll further.
There are no legitimate chances and need a defensive error. If the spades divide Ax opposite Kx, you must hope to induce a first round duck and then crash the A and K together. How could you do that?
The opponents don't know you have a 6 card suit. Consider what might happen if you lead a diamond to dummy's K and then play a spade to the Q! (has to be the Q, no other card will do)
LHO looking at Ax of spades might very well duck, thinking you have KQT9x and have a guess in spades (they hope you go to dummy with CK next and play a spade to the K, setting up partner's J for the setting trick). If you indeed have KQT9x and they win the A from Ax, then you are forced to take the winning line of finessing their partner for the J.
It is a slim chance which is more likely to work against better opponents than not, but then what have you got to lose?
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