HomeBaseClub Think before you play problem

[Gerben42]

Here is an interesting hand from the HomeBaseClub and it is interesting on two different leads.

 

Scoring: MP

Dealer: LHO

Vulnerable: Us

 

♠ 652

♥ K4

♦ T4

♣ KQ9642

 

♠ A3

♥ AQJ753

♦ AK5

♣ A7

 

Okay, so you are red vs white and RHO opens 3♦ third in seat favorable.

 

Pass Pass 3♦ Dbl

Pass 4♣ Pass 4♥

Pass 6♥

 

Okay, so you reach 6♥ on for example this auction. Since it is an individual you are content with a small slam, and you were not sure about 6NT which is the better contract at MP. Anyway, it'll have to do.

 

Scenario 1: It goes all pass and LHO leads the ♦3 , 10, Jack, King. What's your plan?

 

Scenario 2: RHO doubles 6♥ which becomes the final contract. This double asks for a non-♦ lead, and not surprisingly, LHO leads ♣5 , the 2 from dummy, ♥2! Can you still bring this home?

 

As usual, those who are Adv+ should post hidden.

[han]

I'll preempt Roland by saying that this hand is too difficult for this forum.

[Gerben42]

Okay - thought it might be instructive - move it where it fits then.

[ArcLight]

I wouldn't want to risk a Dime ruff, and you cant ruff dimes safely if RHO has 7.

 

Scenario 1 - you have received a favorable lead, the contract is probably cold, Draw and run trumps, maybe Clubs come in for no losers, otherwise 1 loser.

 

 

Scenario 1 - disadvantageous lead.

Since RHO was void in Clubs, hope he has just 1 more trump, and 4 spades.

Win the return, play 1 round of trumps, unblock the Ace of Clubs, heart to the King, 2 Clubs discarding losers, ruff to hand and draw trumps.

[awm]

This is a standard double squeeze. In case one, we win the lead and pull trumps, then proceed to cash all the trumps (pitching two spades and two clubs from dummy) and the diamond king. Now the top three clubs. If clubs break of course we are cold for seven. Otherwise, we have hopefully been counting RHO's diamonds. If our last diamond is good, pitch a spade on the third club and cash spade ace and the diamond. If not, RHO's last two cards are a diamond and a spade, so we pitch down to Ax of spade and LHO's last two cards are a club and a spade, so we make seven. In case two, we must unblock the club ace on the first trick. At this point it is basically the same double squeeze line except that we've lost the first trick. However, a spade return by RHO will potentially break this up.

[Trumpace]

I'll bite.

 

Scenario 2: drop the ♣A on the first trick and go for a double squeeze.

[pclayton]

A few possibilities:

 

 

1. Unblock A♣ 1st. If the spade isn't returned, the hand plays itself on a dbl sqz. Win ♦ (say), hearts, diamond and clubs in that order.

 

If a spade is returned its much tougher. About your only choice:

 

2. Play RHO for a 6 card diamond suit. ♦,♦ (holding breath), ruff ♦, K♥ overtaking (again holding breath), trumps, claim.

 

[inquiry]

First line (Diamond lead to JACK-King).

 

 

Play safe for contract and take likely over trick. We have 6♥, 3♣, 2♦ and 1♠ for 12 tricks as long as ♥ are no worse than 4-1. Win ♦, ♥K and run ♥'s. After last ♥, cash ♦ACE, ♣Ace and cross to dummy in take last top club. If clubs are good, great. IF not, If East has 6♦ (or more) for his 3♦ bid and West has the long ♣, the double squeeze does them in. East has to keep a ♦ to prevent you little diamond from being good, and West has to keep a ♣ to keep the dummies last club form being good,,, So when you lead the clbu queen here... see what happens...

 

[hv=n=sxhdcqx&w=skhdcjt&e=sqjhdqc&s=sa2hd3c]399|300|East throws a diamond and you throw a spade, and if east throws a spade you throw a diamond. [/hv]

 

 

 

 

Line two, ♣ lead and east ruffs. You drop the ♣ ACE. Best defense is ♠ back to break up the easy double squeeze mentioned above. On a spade back, you have no choice but to play ♦ to be 6-2 and that you can afford to overtake the heart king with with the ACE. Not very pleasant options, because that means EAST preempted with a four card side major (if he is 3-3-7-0 you can not make). So on spade back... try to cash two diamonds, ruff 3rd diamond in dummy and win next trick with heart in your hand.

 

[inquiry]

I'll bite.

 

Scenario 2: drop the ♣A on the first trick and go for a double squeeze.

 

No double squeeze on a ♠ back after the club ruff.