[kfay]

You decide to open 4♠ 1st seat R/W at MPs.

Scoring: MP

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LHO leads a 3/5 club spot and you play the Johnson, RHO follows low.

You lead the ♠J and RHO follows small.

1) This is MATCHPOINTS, what do you play?
2) This is IMPs, what do you play?


Let's say that, because of LHO's demeanor, you play the A. He follows small, you play another spade and he promptly cashes two honors (original holding KQx) and plays the ace of hearts.

What do you do now?

Edit: Oops I thought I posted this in B/I!!!

[Jlall]

What spot did he lead? If it's possible for LHO to have 5 clubs and RHO a stiff then I would definitely go up with the SA.

If that is not possible then I duck vs most people at MP. The main reason to duck at MP is that if LHO has the DA and Qx of spades (or unblocks the Kx) then we lose our strip squeeze by going up with the ace (RHO gets in and backs a club to break it up).

Another reason to duck is LHO might have doubled with a stiff spade honor SLIGHTLY more often than with a small stiff (ok this is definitely reaching, but maybe a marginal hand like x Kxxx Axxx Kxxx wouldn't double, but if you added in stiff K of spades it would). It's definitely better to have stiff H since it's more defense.

At imps, it's probably right to go up with the ace vs most opps, as many opps cover with KQx or at least hitch at least some percentage of the time, and the overtrick when spades are 2-2 is no longer a concern, nor is going down an extra one when RHO has KQ8x of spades.

Also, I know you didn't ask, but opening 4S is beyond horrible.