Trumpace

On the table, I would agree that this is a difficult one to spot, but as a puzzle, away from the table I am not so sure, but you are a far better judge than me in these matters. Anyway, your reply serves as a hint which definitely makes it easier now, as people will start looking for a difficult line! Apologies for posting this in the wrong forum.

Adv+, please refrain from posting answers too early. [hv=v=n&n=sqjt98hqj3dqj2c32&s=sakha2da5cakqj764]133|200|Scoring: Rubber Contract 6♣. West leads the club 10.[/hv] Contract is 6♣ and West's opening lead is the ♣10. The play goes as follows Trick 1: ♣10 ♣2 ♥4 ♣A (Won by S) Trick 2: ♣K ♣5 ♣3 ♥5 (Won by S) Trick 3: ♣Q ♣8 ♠8 ♥ 6 (Won by S) Trick 4: ♣J ♣9 ♥3 ♦4 (Won by S) Trick 5: ♦A ♦3 ♦2 ♦6 (Won by S) Trick 5: ♦5 ♦K ♦J ♦7 (Won by W) Trick 6: ♠2 ♠9 ♠3 ♠K (Won by S) Declarer then played off his trumps and lost a heart in the end. Down 1. What mistake(s) did the declarer make?

I had to play this for two tricks! J983 K74 In the actual play, i played 4 to the jack (won by Q) and 3 back to the 7 (won by A). a 3-3 split gave me 2 tricks... but I have this feeling that I didn't deserve the two tricks :-) What is the right play?

Let me try the first one: 65 AK10973 for 5 tricks

Would a 3C bid be game forcing then? I think 3C should be game forcing... What about a double? should that show spades but not a forcing hand, as 2S already is forcing one round (I think that should be the case if 1NT denies 4 spades). This is matchpoints and 2S might easily be a good spot... Sorry if the question seems too basic. Thanks for the responses.

That's a good lead! Otherwise I could just play for 2 heart ruffs. Anyway maybe is this what you had in mind? :: ::

I was kibitzing this hand, East played the diamond 2 and West continued diamonds! Why give West the chance to go wrong? Overtake, cash high club and lead diamond 8. Are there some hands where this defense fails while the discouraging diamond at first trick works? Found it to be an interesting example of "make life easy for partner" deal.

North is dealer, you are east and hold: 982,54,K82,AKJ94 Bidding goes 1C-P-1H-P-1S-P-1NT-P-P-P Partner leads the ♦Q and you see: [hv=d=n&v=n&n=sak53hkj2d973cq32&e=s982h54dk82cakj94]266|200|Scoring: Matchpoints[/hv] How do you defend?

Oops sorry. Interchanged diamonds and clubs. Hand: Qxx, Ax, AKxxx, Jxx

Matchpoints, none vul. You are dealer and hold: Qxx, Ax, Jxx, AKxxx You open 1D, LHO passes, partner bids 1H, RHO passes, you bid 1NT, LHO comes in with 2C and partner bids 2S. Is 2S by partner game forcing? Assume a pickup partner.

Well, If I have the option set, the UI could hide all hands from me, and when the bidding is over I get to see the declarer's and dummy's hands. I get just a few moments to review the bidding, but I am ok with that (I think in most cases there will be plenty time waiting for opening lead). I agree this might not work with improving my bidding, but will definitely help in improving card play. Anyway, I think it would be useful option to have for people still learning the game.

Yes, I know about that. The option I am speaking about is Kibitz *Declarer*. Board 1, North is declarer. Board 2, West is declarer etc. I don't have to keep switching from North to West, back to North etc.

I am not sure if this has been asked before, but when I am kibitzing a table, can I have options like "Kibitz Declarer" or "Kibitz Opening Leader" etc? That way, when I want to concentrate on improving my declarer play/defense, I won't have to keep switching seats with each board. Thanks.

I will try to set up the diamonds. Win the spade A in hand. Play a diamond to the king. If opps win, on a club return, win the Ace. Spade to dummy. ruff diamond low. Spade to dummy. ruff diamond with K. Hopefully diamonds would be setup by now. So I win 6S, 2H, 3D and 1C. If opps duck the first diamond, ruff diamond low, spade to dummy, play the Queen diamond discarding a club. Opps have to win this. On spade return win in dummy, ruff diamond with king. Heart to dummy and enjoy diamonds. again i win 6S, 2H, 3D and 1C.

Apart from a heart opening lead, I don't see any way 6S does not make. I think the declarer played well. Even if East had the diamond Ace, and gave West a club ruff, 4S is assured. Was there really an error by defense?

Sorry for the off topic post, but a correct spelling of analyze is definitely not analize.

You can create tables which require permission from the host to sit (or even kibitz for that matter). BBO allows you to _enforce_ that policy instead of just allowing you to say it. Personally, I would be happy if an empty seat at my table gets filled quickly. If you are waiting for a particular person to sit, BBO allows you to reserve that seat for them.

Oops! you are right. I was sleeping when I wrote this up. In order to make the story more interesting I changed the east hand to have 9742 of clubs. In the actual game East actually held J942. You are entitled to your sleep :D

Are you one who immediately goes to sleep when you get a bad hand? This hand is for you! It is a friendly social rubber. You are East and you hold 9732, 872, 72, 9742 (Weird, you have all the 7's and the 2's). West is dealer and opens 1S. Opponents reach 4H, South being the declarer. Your partner opens with the Spade King (from AK). The dummy hits with: [hv=n=s54hakt9daqj4ca65&e=s9732h872d72c9742]266|200|[/hv] Your partner wins the second round of spades with the Ace and switches to a Diamond. Declarer wins with the K in hand. Opponent draws three rounds of trump (partner following to 2 rounds). Declarer then plays three more rounds of diamonds ending in the dummy. (partner having 3 diamonds). The declarer leads a low club off the table. If you have been sleeping and follow suit with a low club, you have just given away the contract! For this was the position when the club was led: [hv=n=sh9dca65&w=sqhdckjt&e=shdc9742&s=shtdcq83]399|300|[/hv] If you play low, South puts in the 8 and poor partner is endplayed into leading away from the Club K or leading a spade for a ruff/sluff. So don't sleep when you get a bad hand, the whole contract might depend on you :D

I presume you are talking about the case when trumps are 3-2, and you finesse the (second round) trump 9 into the east hand? If east wins the trump and returns a diamond and West ruffs, you are in a position to overruff as dummy too has a singleton diamond and also the ace of trumps West would be ruffing with the last trump outstandingand you can then claim the rest. Did I misunderstand you?

sceptic, your line fails if West has QT84. We should be finessing _West_ as 4 trumps with East is very unlikey to be made. badderzboy, bestguru, I think the hand can be made even if West has XX84. We have to avoid losing 2 trump tricks. 3-2 Trump split is easy (almost any play will do). 5-0 cannot be made. 4-1 trump split, length with east looks like it cannot be made. 4-1 trump split, 8H or 4H singleton with east looks like it cannot be made. 4-1 trump split, XX84 with West, I think _can_ be made, no matter how West plays, if West has atleast 2 clubs and one spade. The following line of play seems to work: (hidden)

This hand is strictly for Intermediate players. Experts please refrain from posting solutions till some intermediates have tried it first. (Comments/Corrections are very welcome though). [hv=v=n&n=s2ha97532djckqj97&s=saj3hk6dakq98cat8]133|200|Scoring: Rubber[/hv] You are south in 6H. West leads a diamond. (Please don't worry about the bidding or if there is a better contract)

Nice hand! I will do the following:

The right answer should not depend on the skill of the person/forum, at least in analysis. Please don't worry about your explanation going over our heads. We will try our best to understand and won't waste too much of your time ;)

You are West. You hold AT9, 2, KQ864, KT72. (spades, heart, diamonds, clubs) Bidding: North in the first seat opens 1S. Then it goes Pass- 1NT - Pass- 3NT. Scoring is Matchpoints. Say you decide to lead a diamond. What card would you lead? the 4th best or the K? Or something else? What is your reasoning? Would it matter if the scoring was different? Thanks.