Bad breaks abound

[Gerben42]

Here's one to rack your brain on.

You're playing MP and our auction was:

 

[hv=d=s&v=n&n=saqt32hk765d8ca65&s=sk84haj93da643c52]133|200|Scoring: MP[/hv]

 

1♦ 1♠

1NT 2♣*

2♥ 4♥

Pass

 

On the lead of ♣K you take the Ace and play ♥K. Small, small, beercard (♦7). Now what?

As you are playing 4♥ you are still in no danger of going down but how do you try to make 11 tricks as safely as possible, a score that is likely to be duplicated by some 4♠-bidders? Or can you be a hero and make 12?

[whereagles]

No way you're going to make 12 tricks here. Since dummy's only side entry is out, even 11 seems difficult to me.

 

At table I wouldn't spend more than 3 mins thinking. I'd just start on the spades. If the 3rd round stands, I'm ok. If not I'll wait and see what happens.

[Gerben42]

Sorry, maybe wasn't a good problem after all... Just thought about it some more and most lines are just "hope for the best". Anyway was sort of unlucky because the people in ♠ managed more tricks :lol:

[coyot]

If hearts break 3-2, this is very easy - cash two top hearts and switch to spades, small to king first, then second to ace. This way, with spades 4-1 onside, the last trump will ruff my spade winner but I can still catch the jack, with spades 4-1 offside I will still have two entries so I can cash the spade (let it be ruffed) and still take the club return on table, ruff the spade jack, ruff another diamond and discard the last club on the spade...

 

If hearts are 4-1, there's no way for spade contract to score any better than 11 tricks.