On a bad day

[han]

This hand is too easy for experts and too hard for beginners. But let me try posting it here.

 

[hv=d=s&v=n&n=sa9xhxxdkxxcj87xx&s=skq8ha9xdaq9xxcax]133|200|Scoring: IMP

2NT - 3NT[/hv]

 

After overbidding as usual you end up in a fine 3NT by south.

 

West leads the heart 5 (fourth best) to the king, you duck. East returns the heart jack, again ducked by you, west plays the 2. East plays a third hand and you win.

 

You play the AKQ of diamonds, east pitching spades on the second and third round.

 

Bah, it really looks like LHO has 5 hearts so if you let him in with a diamond then you will be down 1. Is there any hope?

 

[hv=d=s&v=n&n=sa9xhxxdkxxcj87xx&s=skq8ha9xdaq9xxcax]133|200|Scoring: IMP

2NT - 3NT[/hv]

[jtfanclub]

Play two rounds of spades, and then a third if West didn't start out with a singleton spade (let's assume he didn't). End in your hand.

At this point, we'll have played 3 diamonds, 3 spades, and 3 hearts. Unless spades were 6-1 to start with, East has 4 clubs left.

 

So play the Ace and another club. You win when West has a singleton K or Q of clubs to start with, or if he bared himself down the singleton K or Q of clubs (to go with 2 hearts and a diamond).

 

West has to be worried that if he sluffs hearts and keeps clubs, that you'll end play him with a diamond.

[vuroth]

Play 3 rounds of ♠, ending in hand. If west threw a red card, low diamond, wait for club return.

 

If west threw black cards, case A♣ and exit with a ♣. Maybe an honour will fall, and east will be left with KT♣ in hand facing J7♣ on the board.

 

West only has 4 black cards, and can't protect BOTH a club honor and the red suit holdings. Of course, if east started with more than 5 spades, he'll be able to cash spades if he gets in.

 

V

[kenrexford]

Socialist Biarchy.

[goobers]

I would try the top 3 spades. If LHO is 2542 and pitches a red card, we have no problems, just play diamonds. He won't have enough tricks to beat me. If he pitches a club, I would try club A (hoping to drop an honor) and then a club to the 8. RHO will win this club and another, but he is forced to yield a club trick to me. If he doesn't pitch at all (3451), then I'm just going to try dropping a stiff club honor and play a club to the 8 again.

 

Edit: what vuroth said

 

Also, if LHO is 0544, then I just hope he has KQxx of clubs and he's in trouble when the spades come.

[han]

Well done everybody, but today nothing works. LHO has 9x of clubs and no matter what you try you go down.

[jtfanclub]

LHO has 9x of clubs and no matter what you try you go down.

Only if LHO doesn't keep both clubs.

 

May as well give him a chance to blow it.

[Wackojack]

Actually the diamond pips were AQ962 opposite K43. So you have a further chance if you read west as having 5 hearts to the Q, then you can afford to lose a diamond provided it is to East. So you can lead 2♦ and provided West plays the 87 or 5 you can confidently duck and claim. As the cards lie West has J875 so you are in luck. I happened to be defending and of course did not spot this at the time.

[jtfanclub]

Actually the diamond pips were AQ962 opposite K43. So you have a further chance if you read west as having 5 hearts cards to the Q, then you can afford to lose a diamond provided it is to East. So you can lead 2♦ and provided West plays the 87 or 5 you can confidently duck and claim.

If he plays the 5 you can confidently duck and claim. If he plays the 7, you play the 3 from dummy, East plays the 5 and yer screwed.

 

I think it's more fun to lead the 9 from AQ962 and see if West covers. After all, if you have the ten and he covers, you'll pick up the suit.