S4s XIII - last play problem

[Finch]

There's another 112 boards this weekend (Crockfords final) so I've probably come to an end of the S4s hands.

 

[hv=d=n&v=n&n=s1073hak84d3cak842&s=sakj84hj62dj82c97]133|200|Scoring: IMP

1♦ 1♥ x P

2♥.....4♠[/hv]

 

I'm not totally certain what the auction was, but it started

1♦ = 11-15, min balanced or unbalanced without 4 spades, 5 hearts or a 6-card minor

x = 4+ spades

2♥ = good 3-card raise

 

you now finish in 4♠

LHO leads the 6 of hearts

 

Plan the play

If/when you cash the ace of clubs, RHO will play the queen.

[Finch]

Does no-one care?

[Apollo81]

Does no-one care?

Win and lead a diamond.

 

I suspect this sort of problem gets less attention because replies are either non-conclusive like this one, or they have to contain many different paths of logic to deal with the extra information gained by the suggested plays. This is often one/both of "time consuming" and "not that interesting" for potential posters.

[Finch]

I know, I know... but it caused a great deal of discussion at the time, and was a loss of 11 imps in the semi-final which we lost by 3 imps, so we care...

 

Anyway, you win and lead a diamond. RHO plays low and LHO wins with the 9. LHO switches to a club. You win the ace, RHO playing the Queen.

 

now what?

[gnasher]

No. We've all had enough of you and your horrible hands.

 

OK, I care. When one of your teammates gave me this hand, I won ♥A and played a diamond, won on the right, and a trump was played.

 

I couldn't think of anything better than to play low, presumably losing to the queen, win the trump return, and try to ruff the clubs good, also ruffing a diamond if clubs turn out to be 4-2. That works when trumps are 3-2 and clubs 4-2, or trumps are 4-1 and clubs 3-3. If Clubs are 5=1 it won't work, even with trumps breaking.

 

If that were the right line, however, I don't suppose you'd have posted the problem here.

 

Edit: I see that the play has diverged at an earlier stage. Did you play two very similar hands, or did Martin manage to get the early play wrong as well as the trump suit?

Edited May 12, 2008 by gnasher

[Apollo81]

now what?

Not seeing any fancy lines, I would cash the ♣K, if RHO is 2551 so be it.

[Halo]

In real life I am definitely playing a second club and playing for ruffs ('elopement') .

 

I know that may be what Apollo81 said, but it is not a poll.

 

Maybe the issue is whether to cash one trump.

 

I would because I think East, with his rubbish hearts, most likely has poor spades and good diamonds.

 

So it is club ace, spade ace, diamond ruff, club king etc for me.

[Finch]

Edit: I see that the play has diverged at an earlier stage. Did you play two very similar hands, or did Martin manage to get the early play wrong as well as the trump suit?

One of us has got the early play wrong, but I'm not sure who. The principle of the hand is the same either way, you have to decide what to do when the CQ appears on the first club.

[gnasher]

You can cope with clubs 5-1 by ducking the second round of clubs, using small club ruffs as communication to ruff the diamonds, and then using ♥K as an entry to cash ♣K after cashing the top trumps. I can't think of a way to play this line and still keep trump control if trumps are 4-1.