Guest Jlall Posted December 28, 2007 Report Share Posted December 28, 2007 Jxxx J9x Qxx AJx xx Kx AKJT KQxxx MP random weak field regional (the usual). You open 1N partner bids stayman and then 3N. LHO leads a heart, 9 Q K. How do you play? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdonn Posted December 28, 2007 Report Share Posted December 28, 2007 ♥ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSGibson Posted December 28, 2007 Report Share Posted December 28, 2007 Two options: play to steal a heart or take your top tricks ending in hand, evaluating then. I think that by bidding NT instead of making a borderline reverse you have already given yourself a quarter-trick over the field. No need to go down if RHO made an expert play from AQx in hearts. Take the money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fluffy Posted December 28, 2007 Report Share Posted December 28, 2007 heart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the hog Posted December 28, 2007 Report Share Posted December 28, 2007 Take my 10 tricks ending in hand and lead a H up. Hand may often be played other way up and a S lead automatic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulg Posted December 28, 2007 Report Share Posted December 28, 2007 A good example for the matchpoints is not bridge school. Ten tricks appears to be Av+, so playing a heart looks against the odds. Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whereagles Posted December 28, 2007 Report Share Posted December 28, 2007 Take my 10 tricks ending in hand and lead a H up. Hand may often be played other way up and a S lead automatic. Indeed. We got a favourable lead, so no need to complicate what rates to be an above avg result. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdaming Posted December 28, 2007 Report Share Posted December 28, 2007 what is stopping them from leading spades through your JXXX? not only that seems like if you decide to lead a ♥ and the A takes (offside or on no matter) they can still take AKQ of ♠ even if they don't figure out to lead through your J which would give them 4 tricks rather than the 3 it looks like they get if we take them off the top Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenrexford Posted December 28, 2007 Report Share Posted December 28, 2007 I might be tempted by the heart play if I could paint a false picture. For instance, if I crossed to the club Ace to hook a diamond, and then attacked hearts, LHO might place me with no diamond King, and instead spade values, and make a "safe" return. The problem is that this line is B.S., and would obviously be so. A falsecard play in clubs would be fruitless, IMO. So, I'm left with just leading a heart. That seems dumb, frankly, without any accompanying ruse. So, I'm safe. Cash out and claim 10. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillHiggin Posted December 28, 2007 Report Share Posted December 28, 2007 If you feel the need for a top (ave+ is not enough), then much better to lead spades! If you blatantly go after the heart trick, even fairly weak players will find the spade shift. If you attack spades then either you run directly into the buzz saw (and get your well deserved bottom) or they are likely to persist in attacking hearts. Attacking your own vulnerability can work if only done occasionally (do it too often and the opps will catch on to you). This is NOT the time that I would try it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apollo81 Posted December 28, 2007 Report Share Posted December 28, 2007 I'd cash out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoTired Posted December 28, 2007 Report Share Posted December 28, 2007 Cash out. I am really surprised by so many folks recommending leading a heart. 1. Some tables might not reach game2. Some may get a spade lead3. Taking 10 tricks may already be a top or near top4. The heart play looks suspicious 5. A spade lead may be more common than you think6. Leading a heart at trick 2 hopes the opponents are very poor. If they are that poor, then after safely cashing 10 tricks and then leading a heart, you may still get an 11th trick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtK78 Posted December 28, 2007 Report Share Posted December 28, 2007 Cash out. 10 tricks is a good result on this hand. Every so often one of the defenders will mess up the end position and you will make another trick anyway. But if you don't cash out it is quite likely that you will make less than 10 tricks, and almost never more than 10 tricks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bid_em_up Posted December 28, 2007 Report Share Posted December 28, 2007 I think the decision to open 1N has already won the board for you, and to do anything other than cash out is simply foolish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pclayton Posted December 28, 2007 Report Share Posted December 28, 2007 I'd cash out. I think you won the board already with the 1N opening which is far from obvious for many players. I can see other tables starting 1♣ - 1♠ - 2♦ - 3♣ - 3N, whereas a spade through dummy looks a lot more appealing rather than a heart away from the Ace. Furthermore, the ♥Q looks like a technical error, but thats really subtle and not obvious at T1. Against weak players I'd fire a small spade. They won't have a clue about the position and will play heart and a heart. This sounds silly but I've seen it time and time again. Not just players with 75 masterpoints either, but I've seen Gold Life Masters play like this. Its just horrible. Too often, they get into this mode of "If declarer does x, I'll do y". Playing a heart is a sure way to wake up even the sleepiest player to find the spade shift. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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