Play Problem:

[bid_em_up]

[hv=n=saj9xxhxxda10xcaxx&s=sk10xxhxxxdk9xcqjx]133|200|Nobody vul.

Imp scoring (team game)

Dealer North

1♠-(2♠*)-4♠ all pass

 

*michaels[/hv]

 

The opponents start with three rounds of hearts. You brilliantly ruff the 3rd round in hand, play a spade to the K, and successfully finesse the spade J. On the this trick, LHO pitches a small diamond, and on the next spade he pitches a heart.

 

Take it from there.

[whereagles]

Take 3 rounds of clubs while finessing. Someone will have to break diamonds afterwards.

[Finch]

Can I see where the CK is please?

If East (LHO, as we have declarer at the top) is 1552 or 1561 without the CK we just cash the two top diamonds and play 3 rounds of clubs via the finesse endplaying West.

 

If East has singleton K or Kx of clubs we play ace and another club, endplaying East.

 

However, as West has more clubs than East, and we'll go off anyway if East has Qxxxx Kx in the minors, we'll just go with ace of diamonds, diamond to dummy, club finesse. (Ace of diamonds first in case East has x KQxxx Qxxxxx K).

 

by the way, if you believe that East would have led a singleton club, a better line would be ruff the third heart, spade to the king, run the queen of clubs. that would leave us better off if East were 1-5-6-1 with singleton CK because it will end play him, and we can always take the spade finesse next. But 2-5-5-1 with two low spades would make us look a little silly.

[bid_em_up]

Can I see where the CK is please?

If East (LHO, as we have declarer at the top) is 1552 or 1561 without the CK we just cash the two top diamonds and play 3 rounds of clubs via the finesse endplaying West.

 

If East has singleton K or Kx of clubs we play ace and another club, endplaying East.

 

However, as West has more clubs than East, and we'll go off anyway if East has Qxxxx Kx in the minors, we'll just go with ace of diamonds, diamond to dummy, club finesse. (Ace of diamonds first in case East has x KQxxx Qxxxxx K).

 

by the way, if you believe that East would have led a singleton club, a better line would be ruff the third heart, spade to the king, run the queen of clubs. that would leave us better off if East were 1-5-6-1 with singleton CK because it will end play him, and we can always take the spade finesse next. But 2-5-5-1 with two low spades would make us look a little silly.

Frances, serious question:

 

Why are you inferring LHO has diamonds and not clubs?

[MFA]

I would have run the ♠T instead of playing ♠ to the J (no, he won't cover :unsure:). Then run the ♣Q to cater to x, xxxxx, QJxxxx, K with East.

 

Now I play ♦ to dummy and finess in clubs and later play for the endplay of West.

 

EDIT: East has diamonds because noone would shed a diamond with 1-5-2-5.

[Finch]

EDIT: East has diamonds because noone would shed a diamond with 1-5-2-5.

What he said.

 

The fact that I was separately having a discussion with someone about a hand from last night where I bid 2S showing specifically hearts and diamonds is of course irrelevant.

 

But as MFA says, running the S10 is a safer way of dealing with the singleton CK than my approach.

[bid_em_up]

EDIT: East has diamonds because noone would shed a diamond with 1-5-2-5.

What he said.

 

The fact that I was separately having a discussion with someone about a hand from last night where I bid 2S showing specifically hearts and diamonds is of course irrelevant.

 

But as MFA says, running the S10 is a safer way of dealing with the singleton CK than my approach.

I'm not so sure that "what he said" is accurate. Of course a defender may pitch a diamond from 1-5-2-5, if he wants to convince you that he has diamonds. :)

 

Given that you have placed LHO with diamonds (which is correct), when you play the club Q from dummy, it is covered by the K.

 

Now what?

[MFA]

EDIT: East has diamonds because noone would shed a diamond with 1-5-2-5.

What he said.

 

The fact that I was separately having a discussion with someone about a hand from last night where I bid 2S showing specifically hearts and diamonds is of course irrelevant.

 

But as MFA says, running the S10 is a safer way of dealing with the singleton CK than my approach.

I'm not so sure that "what he said" is accurate. Of course a defender may pitch a diamond from 1-5-2-5, if he wants to convince you that he has diamonds. :)

 

Given that you have placed LHO with diamonds (which is correct), when you play the club Q from dummy, it is covered by the K.

 

Now what?

Eliminate and play ♣J + ♣. West has only clubs left.

[gnasher]

It doesn't matter which minor East has. If he is 1525 you still need West to have CK, and the endplay will work just the same.

 

It also doesn't matter which minor you exit with after cashing your minor suit winners - either will do, though for some reason everyone has suggested clubs.

[gnasher]

I would have run the ♠T instead of playing ♠ to the J (no, he won't cover :)). Then run the ♣Q to cater to x, xxxxx, QJxxxx, K with East.

Whether this is a good idea depends on the spade spots, which we weren't given.

 

If spades turn out to be 2-2, I want to be able to cross back with a third round of spades, so as to cope with East's 2-5-5-1 with CK. This is more likely than 1-5-6-1, and doesn't require any misdefence.