[nullve]

From yesterday's Free Daylong Tournament (MP):

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Opening lead: ♥K

Roughly how would you attack this?

(Sorry about the 3N bid.)

[DavidKok]

It looks like most pairs will be in 4♠ (perhaps some ambitious pairs will continue to 5♠, but missing 2 key cards I don't think many pairs will bid a slam). There seem to be at least 10 and probably 11 or 12 tricks in spades, so to end up with a good score you will need to take at least 10 tricks and probably 11. Compared to a spade contract you're losing an extra heart, so I think you have to hope that you'll lose one fewer spade to make up for it. This means playing West for all 5 missing spades. This quite ridiculous, since presumably West has better hearts than spades on this lead and auction. So that would give West K9xxx KQTx(x) in the majors. A terribly slim chance.

If you want to cater to this distribution you win the first round with the ace (a diamond switch would defeat you if East has the ace) and play a spade - low to the jack is probably best. If East follows to this trick I don't see how you are ever going to beat declarers in 4♠.

Alternatively, instead of going for a good score you could aim at avoiding a total bottom instead. Maybe some pairs failed to bid the game or bid all the way to slam, and you should just try to maximise the odds of making your contract.

[nullve]

Spades were not 5-0 but there was still a way to get a near-top.