Play problem in 4H

[Finch]

Swiss teams.

A surprising number of declarers went off in this contract, including (so I'm told), rather sadly, two members of the England junior squad so you would be in good company.

 

[hv=d=e&v=n&n=sak4ha7dak863c652&s=s53hk109642d52cq83]133|200|Scoring: IMP

P P* P 1♦

P 1♥ P 2NT

P 4♥ all pass

 

*not a second seat vul against not weak two[/hv]

 

You escape the club lead, and get a spade lead.

Plan the play.

[655321]

 

 

If ♦ are 3-3 any line makes (assuming ♥ behave).

If ♦ are 2-4 (doubleton with West) 4♥ is in trouble.

 

So, win ♠A, play ♦A, ♦K, ♦.

 

- If East follows, ruff (with the T).

- If East discards, ruff, play ♥K, ♥A, ♦, etc.

- If East ruffs high, you could either discard a ♣,

hoping the trumps now come in for no loser, or you could over-ruff,

and run the ♥T, playing for split honors - we just have the ♥ pips to cope.

 

A variation would be to cash ♥K before starting on the ♦.

 

 

[y66]

 

 

Will play for hearts 32 either way and for RHO to have 2 or 3 diamonds.

 

DA, DK, D3 then if RHO follows, ruff with H9 in case LHO has 2 diamonds and 2 or 3 small hearts.

 

If RHO ruffs high, overruff, run HT, then heart to ace, ruff diamond, spade to ace, then diamond pitching club.