How do you play this slam?

[DrTodd13]

[hv=n=sa8xhajxxxdajxcak&s=skjt9xhkxdxcjt9xx]133|200|[/hv]

 

Play 6♠ from South with a small diamond lead.

[mikeh]

I always try to answer these after a tank no longer than I would take at the table, altho I have been known to tank for a looonnnnggggg time before playing to trick 1. With that in mind, I win the ♦A and cash the top ♣s.

 

I am going to ignore the non-trivial possibility of a top club being ruffed: I am not down yet, but I am not going to get into my line of play after that, especially since either opp might be ruffing, and my line depends on which it was.

 

If the ♣Q appears, then I play trump from the top, driving out or dropping the queen: I am going to ignore the possibility of LHO holding 5 trump, but I can handle RHO holding 5: I will cash the A first.

 

If the ♣ Q doesn't appear, I come to hand with the ♥K and place the ♣J on the table.

 

If LHO covers, ruff with the 8.

 

If that is overruffed, I have the rest.

 

If it is not overruffed, I play trump from the top if LHO had covered from Qxxx, but otherwise, I cash trump A and low to the J.

 

If LHO shows out, ruff low, return to hand with a ♦ ruff, ruff the 4th club with the A of trump and hook the ♠ coming back: I will need trump to be 3-2.

 

If LHO follows low to the ♣ J, ruff with the 8 to tempt an overruff with the Q:

 

If he overruffs with the Q and returns a trump, win in hand, ruff the next club with the A and ruff a ♦ back to hand and draw trump

 

If he overruffs with the Q and returns a ♦, ruff, ruff a club with the A and draw trump.

 

If he refuses to overruff, you don't know where the Q is... a strong defender will not overrruff.

 

ruff a ♦, ruff a club with the A and hook a trump... again, I need trump 3-2

 

 

If clubs are 3-3, with rho holding Qxx, then I play A♠ and spade to the J

 

 

I think that covers all the 4-2 ♣ holdings... at least, those that I can handle.

[skjaeran]

I always try to answer these after a tank no longer than I would take at the table, altho I have been known to tank for a looonnnnggggg time before playing to trick 1. With that in mind, I win the ♦A and cash the top ♣s.

 

I am going to ignore the non-trivial possibility of a top club being ruffed: I am not down yet, but I am not going to get into my line of play after that, especially since either opp might be ruffing, and my line depends on which it was.

 

If the ♣Q appears, then I play trump from the top, driving out or dropping the queen: I am going to ignore the possibility of LHO holding 5 trump, but I can handle RHO holding 5: I will cash the A first.

 

If the ♣ Q doesn't appear, I come to hand with the ♥K and place the ♣J on the table.

 

If LHO covers, ruff with the 8.

 

If that is overruffed, I have the rest.

 

If it is not overruffed, I play trump from the top if LHO had covered from Qxxx, but otherwise, I cash trump A and low to the J.

 

If LHO shows out, ruff low, return to hand with a ♦ ruff, ruff the 4th club with the A of trump and hook the ♠ coming back: I will need trump to be 3-2.

 

If LHO follows low to the ♣ J, ruff with the 8 to tempt an overruff with the Q:

 

If he overruffs with the Q and returns a trump, win in hand, ruff the next club with the A and ruff a ♦ back to hand and draw trump

 

If he overruffs with the Q and returns a ♦, ruff, ruff a club with the A and draw trump.

 

If he refuses to overruff, you don't know where the Q is... a strong defender will not overrruff.

 

ruff a ♦, ruff a club with the A and hook a trump... again, I need trump 3-2

 

 

If clubs are 3-3, with rho holding Qxx, then I play A♠ and spade to the J

 

 

I think that covers all the 4-2 ♣ holdings... at least, those that I can handle.

100% agree with Mike.