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Can you beat this slam?


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The following hand from a league match yesterday is quite interesting to analyze.

 

You have this inspiring collection:

 

Txx

Jxx

Qxx

Kxxx

 

and hear the following bidding sequence:

 

1 - 2

4 splinter - 4NT rkc

5 2 no q - 6

 

Partner leads the 5 of (3rd 5th, you have not discussed slam leads in particular) and dummy comes down with:

 

KJ9xxx

Axx

x

AQx

 

Dummy plays the Queen and you win the King (declarer plays small). Just in case it matters, the invisible Clubs are now: J, 10, 7, 3.

 

Partner's lead found your King. Now you can beat the contract by returning the right suit. Which is it?

 

Gerben

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Return a and knock out entry to the long . Your only chance is if declarer has a stiff A. If you return anything but a , declearer will cash win in hand. Cash a , cross to dummy in , ruff a , pull trumps, cross to dummy in clubs, and run 's. Play declarer for something like...

 

A

KQTxx

Axxxx

Tx

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Return a and knock out entry to the long . Your only chance is if declarer has a stiff A. If you return anything but a , declearer will cash win in hand. Cash a , cross to dummy in , ruff a , pull trumps, cross to dummy in clubs, and run 's. Play declarer for something like...

 

A

KQTxx

Axxxx

Tx

[hv=n=skj9xxxhaxxdxcaqx&w=sqxxhxxdkjxxct753&e=stxxhjxxdqxxckxxx&s=sahkqxxxdaxxxxcxx]399|300|[/hv]

 

If the hand is the one you suggest Ben declarer's play doesn't make any sense.

Take the cA

Spade to the ace

Diamond ace

Diamond ruff

Spade king discarding a club

club ruff

diamond ruff

club ruff

Diamond ruff with the hA

spade ruff

Now KQ of hearts and concede the fifth diamond at the end.

 

Some inferences:

I think that my pd doesn't have the cJ because underleading a Jack againstt a slam is a very horrible idea. Even when it works.

Next I think declarer is missing the hQ or a side ace because with all the aces and the hQ he would have asked for kings to play 7

Declarer doesn't have Ax of spades, he would have rised with the cA and stablish spades for discards.

Declarer doesn't have 2 clubs because he would take the cA and discard a club in the sK.

So why declarer played the cQ instead of low to his Jack? Maybe because he needs to conceal the cJ

I think declarer is missing the hQ, pd may have the singleton hQ I can't imagine a hand where the sA or the dA is missing and declarer can still make the slam.

 

Something is wrong in this hand. Something is wrong.

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