[awm]

This one cropped up in a two-day pairs event, but feel free to give a line at IMPs if you prefer; just making this contract will be a good result.

Scoring: MP

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The contract is 3NT by south, on the auction:

P - P - P - 1NT (15-17)
P - 2♥(transfer) - P - 2♠
P - 2NT - P - 3NT
All Pass

The invite is somewhat conservative, but it is matchpoint scoring.

West leads the ♦Q (standard leads). What's your plan?

[pclayton]

I'd duck the 1st diamond, win the 2nd on the board and play a spade to the Queen. If it wins, I'll continue with a spade.

I'll hope diamonds are 4-2, the club hook is on and spades are 3-3 or 4-2 with Jen-x on my left.

I'm budgeting to lose 2 spades, 1 diamond and a heart. Hopefully I'll make 3 spades, 2 or 3 hearts, 2 diamonds and 1 or 2 clubs.

[Fluffy]

duck a diamond, knock out ♥A and play a club to the nine later if able.