ezyang

MrAce is spot on. Full deal: [hv=sn=ezyang&s=S96H64DJ9765CKJ53&wn=Robot&w=SKT84HKJT95DAKCA2&nn=Partner&n=SAJ32HAQ87D83CT64&en=Robot&e=SQ75H32DQT42CQ987&d=n&v=e&b=9&a=PPP1H(Major%20suit%20opening%20--%205+%20!H;%2011-21%20HCP;%2012-22%20total%20points)P1N(2-%20!H;%206-11%20HCP;%2012-%20total%20points)P2S(Opener%20reverse%20--%205+%20!H;%204+%20!S;%2021-%20HCP;%2018-22%20total%20points)P3H(2%20!H;%206-7%20HCP)P3N(5-6%20!H;%204-5%20!S;%2019-21%20HCP;%2022-%20total%20points;%20partial%20stop%20in%20!C;%20partial%20stop%20in%20!D)PPP&p=D6DAD8D4HKHAH2H4CTCQCKCAHJHQH3H6C6C8CJC2C3S8C4C9C7C5S4S2S5S6SKSASJSQS9STDTD5DKD3HTH7D2D7H9H8S7D9H5S3DQDJ]399|300[/hv] (Yes, at the table partner lead the CT, but I don't think you have any reason to figure it out in that case.)

[hv=sn=You&s=S96H64DJ9765CKJ53&wn=Robot&w=SKT84HKJT95DAKCA2&en=Robot&d=n&v=e&b=9&a=PPP1H(Major%20suit%20opening%20--%205+%20!H;%2011-21%20HCP;%2012-22%20total%20points)P1N(2-%20!H;%206-11%20HCP;%2012-%20total%20points)P2S(Opener%20reverse%20--%205+%20!H;%204+%20!S;%2021-%20HCP;%2018-22%20total%20points)P3H(2%20!H;%206-7%20HCP)P3N(5-6%20!H;%204-5%20!S;%2019-21%20HCP;%2022-%20total%20points;%20partial%20stop%20in%20!C;%20partial%20stop%20in%20!D)PPP]399|300[/hv] You elect to lead the D6; partner discourages with the D8, declarer dropping the D4. Declarer now advances the HK, partner winning the HA. Partner shifts to the C6, declarer playing the C9. What do you play?

Ugh, once again, I can't count. Thanks guys.

So, uh, if everyone follows the first spade, can't we safely ruff a diamond back to hand? (i.e. it doesn't cost to ST. Of course, when they do break 5-0, we need to pick our poison. I'll leave that to you experts...)

I'm going to play hearts for 3-3 K onside, since the X might indicate trumps are splitting 4-1. I don't like cross-ruffing or trying to set up diamonds. To do this, ruff the first club and then SQ. Say defense backs a club; win the CA (pitching a diamond!) and another spade up. If a club continuation forces dummy, finesse hearts with the HT and H3 and then win the trump race (SJ, run hearts). If a diamond puts you on the board, finesse a heart to hand, ruff a club, and finesse another heart to hand and win the trump race. As for the lead, how about the club Q? Maybe you can figure out what to do next.

Jumpshift. As a general rule, a splinter is a double jump; so 4♣, 4♦ and 3♠ in your examples would be splinters. There are some cases where this is not the case, usually only when a jumpshift would be impossible. I don't know what people like to do when a reverse is available.

On the actual table, your partner held: Qxxx x Tx QJxxxx Slam works on a (working) finesse.

[hv=pc=n&s=sakjt2ha2dkqj2cat&d=w&v=b&b=4&a=3hp4h?]133|200[/hv] Your call? (IMPs)

Well... the HQ gains when the opening lead is from KJT AND the spade finesse is off. Which is silly, just rise the ace.

Cool tool! Ditto for wanting dealer and vul. If you could hook up with some sort of bot, enabling competition would be quite useful.

If hearts split 2-2 you have an easy ten tricks, even with diamonds off-side (without fussing about spades). But if they're not, you still have chances. Since E is the danger hand you should win on the board and finesse the HQ. If it loses, you still have time to catch hearts 2-2 or jettison a diamond loser by finessing a spade.