vuroth

This. Your plan is concede heart, win return, draw trumps, AH, H ruff. If you cash the AH first, they might win the second round of hearts, and lead a third round and overruff you.

Does anyone play that 2NT denies a singleton or void?

A♣. If partner shows out I'll cash my A♦, otherwise I'll exit with a club. I think the danger hands for declarer are 5251 where declarer does not have a natural diamond trick, but can be helped if we lead diamonds (or hearts letting him discard a diamond from dummy) and 5215 where clubs will run once the A♣ is gone.

My question is the same as BG's, but my first impression is

Sorry, han, I guess I'm very much stuck in matchpoints mode, where giving up the overtrick in diamonds is still a complete disaster.

I had the same feeling about 4NT, but since 3H isn't forcing here or in NMF, I really don't know what the right bid is over 2♥

Oh, no question. Both pick up Qx in west, though your way doesn't involve a guess. Thing is, as a B/I, I have enough trouble picturing the possible hands in south. Maybe everyone else can differentiate between south's holdings based on his actual line of play ATT, but it's beyond me. If the point of this problem is to pay attention to declarer's line of play, I have no problem with that.

[hv=pc=n&s=sk8753hak3dkjca73&w=sh96daq9653ct9864&n=sat62hq52d8ckqj52&e=sqj94hjt874dt742c&d=s&v=0&b=11&a=1s2d3sp4sppdpprppp&p=ctc2s4cah4hah6h2c3c6cjs9h8hkh9h5skd3s2sjs3d5sasqckd2c7c4cqd4dj]399|300[/hv] This is where I got fowled up. I missed that dummy would not have 5 running clubs under this scenario, though I guess if partner started with 7 diamonds instead of 6 maybe? [hv=pc=n&s=sk8753hak3dkca743&w=sh96daqj9653ct986&n=sat62hq52d8ckqj52&e=sqj94hjt874dt742c&d=s&v=0&b=11&a=1s2d3sp4sppdpprppp&p=ctc2s4cah4hah6h2c3c6cjs9h7hkh9h5skd3s2sjs3d5sasqckd2c4c8cqd4c7c9c5d7dk]399|300[/hv] Ok so maybe partner signals a discouraging heart the first time, so we lead diamonds the second time. It's the possibilities that crush me on hands like this. I admire the experts, who can see at trick 1 that the above hands aren't problems, but inquiry's hand is.

FWIW, presented as a problem, it's easy. ATT I get this wrong at least 9 times out of 10. Good problem. Thanks.

So is the solution that we rise with the ace, and declarer holds [hv=pc=n&s=sk987632h4dakqtc2]133|100[/hv] or do we duck in case partner holds a singleton honour and declarer holds [hv=pc=n&s=skq9876h4dakqtc32]133|100[/hv] And why does the OP contain a horrible defensive gaffe that not even an beginner would make at trick 9? ATT I'd probably duck, but even on reflection I'm not sure what's right. Which probably means I'm overlooking something basic.

Am I reading correctly? JB made when west, having taken 4 spade tricks v 3NT, returned a heart rather than the A♣?

I can't imagine any of the kitchen bridge players I know having trouble following this book. For me, the genius isn't in what level needs to know the info, but how clearly it's explained. Honestly anyone who has played 100 hands of bridge should be able to follow the book, cover to cover. I liked the book so much I gave it away.

Based on daveharty's spoiler, looks like I'm wrong anyways.

I'm not advanced, but I'll spoiler my thoughts, to be polite.

Seems right to play 7♥ at trick 2. Ideally I'd like to ruff a heart before I draw trumps. Really don't get why we would start spades by playing low to the ten. Exactly how often will west hold exactly Jxxx in spades here?

That was my first thought when weighting 1 spade. I'm far from good enough to know who's right and wrong on this issue, but well said.

Shakes an angry fist at barmar

I'll be around, starting ~ the 26th. Staying with family, so I'll be splitting time, but I'll be around. Don't know how I missed this thread...

The real question seems to be when should partner show a second level control after 3 ♥ and when shouldn't he? I certainly would have expected to hear 1st/2nd round cues over 3♥.

Concede a club. Win the return, cash out my 8 tricks, and exit with the queen of spades. If west has the king, I've done well. If east hast he king, he'll take it, cash his QD, then what? EDIT: To clarify, I'm throwing a heart and a spade on the clubs.

7♠ worked, but even if X is the ace of hearts, it still needs a lot to come home. but yeah, no problem with how west and north bid. I appreciate that south can see a double fit, but 7 with only 1 HCP in the double fit seems pretty ambitious.

I would have chosen 4NT. Should we blast to 6 with 32 HCP and 3 aces covered?

Nice problem.

My initial thought was the same as Quiddity's. I'm not sure I've ever found a book or source that helped me form a plan of attack for hands like this, which is probably why I struggle with them so much.

Congrats, mikeh!