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slams, slams and more slams #2


mikeh

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[hv=n=sq1098xhaxxdaxxcxx&s=sa7xhk10dkxcakqjxx]133|200|One team played 6N on the [H] Q lead, the other 3 played 6 on the same lead, all by South[/hv]
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I'm not sure what the question is, or if there even is a question.

 

Some thoughts, though.

 

1. 6 looks like a better contract

2. If I am in 6, it seems fairly obvious to play spades percentage by leading my guess of Queen or small toward the A7x and finessing, planning to re-finesse as necessary.

3. If I am in 6NT, I have a remote chance of some sort of squeeze. But it seems to be the same play. Finesse by my way of preference (small or Queen toward Ace) and then run down all the cards to see what happens. I'm not inclined to try some sort of throw-in, though.

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I'm not sure what the question is, or if there even is a question.

 

Some thoughts, though.

 

1. 6 looks like a better contract

2. If I am in 6, it seems fairly obvious to play spades percentage by leading my guess of Queen or small toward the A7x and finessing, planning to re-finesse as necessary.

3. If I am in 6NT, I have a remote chance of some sort of squeeze.  But it seems to be the same play.  Finesse by my way of preference (small or Queen toward Ace) and then run down all the cards to see what happens.  I'm not inclined to try some sort of throw-in, though.

The question is your line of play. And you cannot do both 'lead the Q towards the A' and 'low towards the A'. So which is it, and why? Does it matter whether you are in 6N or 6? If not, why not? If so, why so?

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Well, the heart Queen lead is strange and very potentially dangerous. This suggests three problems, but clubs is likely not a problem. That is, unless LHO is void in clubs.

 

If he is void in clubs, then perhaps I should have atacked spades a different way.

 

That said, my partcular take is to lead small toward the 7. Same for both contracts.

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In six spades, you have to hold yourself to one spade loser, and not suffer a potential heart ruff. Could RHO have 7 hearts to the JACK? Not knowing the dealer and vulnerability, this might be difficult to say. But if WEST dealt and the we are vul and they are not, so the bidding went pass-pass-pass-and south opened, i would no longer worry about the heart ruff. Could WEST have QJ-seventh in hearts? Also, EAST had a chance, i assume, to double a 3 transfer if south played spades, and didn't for what that is worth.

 

The correct play of the spade suit is well known, lead an honor from dummy and duck if EAST ducks. I think in six spades, i am not going to worry about the spade ruff, and will play the spade suit correctly. In 6NT, I am going to win the heart ACE, and play on clubs to figure out if I can afford a spade loser (clubs could be 5-0). If clubs are 5-0, come back to me, i will have to think about playing spades for no losers, which will involve some good guessing.

 

If clubs split, there is no need to play immediately on spades, I can continue clubs and throw two from dummy. Since I cleverly hold the spade 7, i will throw the spade T9, and keeping Q8x. This brings power to the T (clash menace) and the small red cards in dummy. I envision endings like these.

 

[hv=n=sq8xhaxdaxxc&w=s(k/j)xxhjxdqtxc&e=s(k/j)xxhxxdxxxc&s=sa7xhtdkxcak]399|300|In this ending, I still have the option to diamond to dummy for spade Queen play, and i will have learned a bit about the opponents play. Clearly, on this shape, the diamond/spade play works as one high spade is with EAST (key not to block the spade suit if you mess around with clubs). But I have squeeze possibilities here too... I would be interested in what cards they discarded to this point. A disadvantage of this line is that while cashing two clubs tell you how to best play for one spade loser, you have to eat one entry to dummy after testing clubs, then they can pretty much kill the entry needed for squeeze when they win their spade. So.... I win the first heart in dummy and take the immediate finesse in spades. I will then win the red card return in hand, and play to this position (see next diagram, again throwing away top spades) [/hv]

 

[hv=n=sq8xhaxdaxxc&w=s(k/j)xxhjxdqtxc&e=s(k/j)xxhxxdxxxc&s=sa7xhtdkxcak]399|300|In this ending, I still have the option to diamond to dummy for spade Queen play, and i will have learned a bit about the opponents play. Clearly, on this shape, the diamond/spade play works as one high spade is with EAST (key not to block the spade suit if you mess around with clubs). But I have squeeze possibilities here too... I would be interested in what cards they discarded to this point. A disadvantage of this line is that while cashing two clubs tell you how to best play for one spade loser, you have to eat one entry to dummy after testing clubs, then they can pretty much kill the entry needed for squeeze when they win their spade. So.... I win the first heart in dummy and take the immediate finesse in spades. I will then win the red card return in hand, and play to this position (see next diagram, again throwing away top spades) [/hv]

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At the table in 6, I would more or less immediately win the K and lead a low spade to the 8. This is almost optimal for the suit, ands additionally gains when LHO pops up (or hesitates) with Kx(x).

your lho is a wc expert (at least by BBO definitions)

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