Did I play wrongly at trick 1?

[a***@yahoo.co.uk]

Me (North)
2
AT872
AQJ7
K65

AKJ8753
KQ
95
J7

N S
1H 1S
2D 3C*
3NT P

Opening lead S4

I couldn't think what this four of spades was led from, so I decided to finesse at trick one. This lost, and upon regaining the lead, crossed to dummy and cashed the AK, finding out that the SQ was stiff offside (this was the second time I took a losing finesse to an honor which could have been dropped). I ended up setting up and cashing the spades (having lost two spade tricks). At the end of it all I just made 3NT. This was a near bottom as one pair made 3NT+1 and three pairs made 4S. Did I do the wrong thing at trick 1?

The full deal:

2
AT872
AQJ7
K65
Q T964
643 J95
K83 T642
T98432 AQ
AKJ8753
KQ
95
J7

A similar thing can happen in 4S. If declarer takes the spade finesse it goes off if West puts a club through dummys K, since East's ST is promoted. The only way to make ten tricks in spades is to drop the SQ or West fails to lead a clubn when in with the SQ. Is it really that obvious to play SAK off the top that possibly four out of the other five pairs took this line?

[Player]

Post by a***@yahoo.co.uk
Me (North)
2
AT872
AQJ7
K65
AKJ8753
KQ
95
J7
N S
1H 1S
2D 3C*
3NT P
Opening lead S4
I couldn't think what this four of spades was led from, so I decided to finesse at trick one. This lost, and upon regaining the lead, crossed to dummy and cashed the AK, finding out that the SQ was stiff offside (this was the second time I took a losing finesse to an honor which could have been dropped). I ended up setting up and cashing the spades (having lost two spade tricks). At the end of it all I just made 3NT. This was a near bottom as one pair made 3NT+1 and three pairs made 4S. Did I do the wrong thing at trick 1?
2
AT872
AQJ7
K65
Q T964
643 J95
K83 T642
T98432 AQ
AKJ8753
KQ
95
J7
A similar thing can happen in 4S. If declarer takes the spade finesse it goes off if West puts a club through dummys K, since East's ST is promoted. The only way to make ten tricks in spades is to drop the SQ or West fails to lead a clubn when in with the SQ. Is it really that obvious to play SAK off the top that possibly four out of the other five pairs took this line?

I would have bid 4S. Passing 3NT seems nuts.

[p***@infi.net]

Post by a***@yahoo.co.uk
Me (North)
2
AT872
AQJ7
K65
AKJ8753
KQ
95
J7
N S
1H 1S
2D 3C*
3NT P
Opening lead S4
I couldn't think what this four of spades was led from, so I decided to finesse at trick one. This lost, and upon regaining the lead, crossed to dummy and cashed the AK, finding out that the SQ was stiff offside (this was the second time I took a losing finesse to an honor which could have been dropped). I ended up setting up and cashing the spades (having lost two spade tricks). At the end of it all I just made 3NT. This was a near bottom as one pair made 3NT+1 and three pairs made 4S. Did I do the wrong thing at trick 1?
2
AT872
AQJ7
K65
Q T964
643 J95
K83 T642
T98432 AQ
AKJ8753
KQ
95
J7
A similar thing can happen in 4S. If declarer takes the spade finesse it goes off if West puts a club through dummys K, since East's ST is promoted. The only way to make ten tricks in spades is to drop the SQ or West fails to lead a clubn when in with the SQ. Is it really that obvious to play SAK off the top that possibly four out of the other five pairs took this line?

At notrump, 3NT may make without the spades coming in, so testing hearts, finessing in diamonds, and playing AK of spades in some order is plausible, I wouldn't know what to make of the lead either -- some players never lead short suits, in which case finessing looks right, and a short suit lead ought to be something other than the lowest spot card. How likely is a lead from Qxx(x) or Q10x(x) ? I don't know.