Cute Problem Hand

[kenrexford]

[hv=d=w&v=e&n=s9xxhqj108xdxxck9x&s=saqj10xxhdq10xxcaxx]133|200|Scoring: MP[/hv]

 

West opened 1♣. North jumped in with an ugly 2♥ and was relieved to hear South correct to 2♠. East doubled this, the final contract.

 

1♣-2♥-P-2♠

P-P-X-P-

P-P

 

West's lead was a small club.

 

What precisely are you playing for? (One of the options is present, but...)

 

 

You want West to have both high diamonds OR Hxx. When you win the club in dummy and play a diamond toward hand, you cover anything below the Queen. West will win in that event and cannot profitably attack spades. You will then play another diamond, win the next play, and eventually ruff a diamond loser. The spade nine in dummy may come into play, remotely.

 

RHO can counter by popping a diamond to attack spades. That beats the ruff, as West has the spade King-third, but then West's Hxx will eventually drop out to establish the Queen for Declarer.

 

The damned diamond 10 creates a losing option for Declarer of playing Opener for Jxx. Opener could have ♠Kxx ♥AKxx ♦Jxx ♣Qxx, though. If East pops a high diamond, a spade will come back, probably finessed for a loss and another spade, providing the bad news. Declarer may opt to try for East having AKx(x) in diamonds, where playing the diamond Queen back does the trick.

 

Declarer's finesse in spades, though, sets up something interesting. He wins the second spade with the 9 to lead a diamond toward hand, putting pressure on RHO. If RHO has AKx(x), he must duck to create a problem.

 

There may be even more going on.

 

[ArtK78]

I must be missing something here.

 

Is this hand a problem?

 

All I want to do is ruff a diamond with the 9 in dummy. I now have 8 tricks - 6 spades and 2 clubs.

 

The only thing that can prevent this is if I cannot make the A and K of clubs. Highly unlikely.

 

EDIT: I wrote the post above in the few minutes I have before leaving for work in the morning. On the drive in, I gave this problem some more thought. The diamond position is, indeed, crutial in the play of the hand. After winning the first round of clubs in dummy and playing a diamond, if RHO does not rise and play a trump, the hand is over. If RHO does rise and play a trump, you duck, losing to the K in LHO's hand, and win the trump return in dummy and play dummy's remaining diamond. Now, as Ken pointed out, the diamond position is, presumably:

 

 

Hx..........................Hxx

 

 

So, is RHO's diamond honor the Ace or the Jack?

 

I would play LHO for the Ace and RHO for the Jack, for very practical reasons. It is hard to imagine LHO passing out 2Sx holding no more than

 

Kxx

AKx

Jxx

QJxx

 

If LHO has the ♦K or ♦A, the two hands would be

 

Kxx

AKx

Axx (or Kxx)

Jxxx

 

x

xxxxx

KJxx (or AJxx)

Qxx

 

These hands are consistent with the auction.

 

All in all, I believe it makes more sense to play RHO for the ♦J. If LHO's original diamond holding was, indeed, Jxx, then give them a tip of the hat and go to the next hand.

[hotShot]

I take the trick with the ♣K at the table and finesse RHO with the ♠9.

If it holds and LHO followed suit, I can play trump as often as needed. This way I collect 6♠ and 2♣.

 

If the finesse does not work, I hope that LHO has only 6♣, so RHO won't ruff the 2nd round of ♣. If I get to play, I will draw another trump. If trumps are 2-2, I can ruff the 3rd round of ♦ in dummy and I'm home.

 

If the trumps are 3-1 with RHO (who dbled) holding 3, I exit in ♣ and drop a ♦ in dummy if LHO continues ♣, hoping to ruff the 2nd round of ♦ or that opps can't avoid to let me get a trick in a red suit.

 

If the 3 trumps are with LHO, I draw the 3rd round of trump and hope that opps can't avoid to let me get a trick in a red suit.

[GaryFisch]

Obviously, winning on the board and taking the trump finesse guarantees 8 tricks if the K is onside. If the K is offside, and clubs are 6-1, the defense can score club ruff, diamond, club ruff. Now the diamond spots in hand are crucial as to whether you can set up a winner in that suit. Also, if East started with HJx or H9x West with ♠Kx, and dummy's diamond spots are high enough that West must win the second diamond with the A in order to stop declarer from scoring a second diamond ruff.

 

I can't see any alternative line that makes sense.

[Echognome]

I think you can guage pretty well RHO's diamond honors if he pops.

 

Suppose he holds Kxx. Do you think it's so clear for him to pop K at trick 2? I mean sure, there are some very good defenders who would find the play, but I'm not sure our man at the table would and besides it gives LHO AJx

 

If RHO holds Axx, then it's possible he would pop A and also possible he would hope you are going for a guess and ducking. The point is that he has no choice but to pop A.

 

Finally, suppose RHO has AKx(x). If he pops, do you think he would pop K or A? I think he would pop K to clarify the suit for his partner. I think it would be a deep play for him to pop A and later try to give you a guess. Yes it's possible and again a good defender might find the play, but I'm not going to play the guy at the table for finding this (or congratulate him if he did).

 

Thus, if I see the pop of a K, I'm going to play RHO for AKx(x). If I see the pop of an A, I'm going to play RHO for Axx(x).

[GaryFisch]

OK, so you are assuming the only reason East would double is with a club singleton or void.

[ArtK78]

I believe Ken, when he initially posted the problem, believed that the double of 2♠ was a reopening double, not a penalty double. That is my belief as well.

 

Opener, with a good hand and 6 clubs, would probably have rebid clubs either immediately over 2♠ or after his partner doubled 2♠.

 

Why would RHO be doubling 2♠? Clearly, his trump are inadequate for a low level double. While he may have had heart length (someone has to) and he was willing to defend 2♥ (or he had no action over 2♥) the double of 2♠ should be for takeout.

 

So, I do not expect RHO to be short in clubs.

[kenrexford]

I take the trick with the ♣K at the table and finesse RHO with the ♠9.

If it holds and LHO followed suit, I can play trump as often as needed. This way I collect 6♠ and 2♣.

 

If the finesse does not work, I hope that LHO has only 6♣, so RHO won't ruff the 2nd round of ♣. If I get to play, I will draw another trump. If trumps are 2-2, I can ruff the 3rd round of ♦ in dummy and I'm home.

 

If the trumps are 3-1 with RHO (who dbled) holding 3, I exit in ♣ and drop a ♦ in dummy if LHO continues ♣, hoping to ruff the 2nd round of ♦ or that opps can't avoid to let me get a trick in a red suit.

 

If the 3 trumps are with LHO, I draw the 3rd round of trump and hope that opps can't avoid to let me get a trick in a red suit.

That line was tried at the table and failed. The doubler obviously does not have the spade length. Opener has the spade length.

[kenrexford]

I think you can guage pretty well RHO's diamond honors if he pops.

 

Suppose he holds Kxx. Do you think it's so clear for him to pop K at trick 2? I mean sure, there are some very good defenders who would find the play, but I'm not sure our man at the table would and besides it gives LHO AJx

 

If RHO holds Axx, then it's possible he would pop A and also possible he would hope you are going for a guess and ducking. The point is that he has no choice but to pop A.

 

Finally, suppose RHO has AKx(x). If he pops, do you think he would pop K or A? I think he would pop K to clarify the suit for his partner. I think it would be a deep play for him to pop A and later try to give you a guess. Yes it's possible and again a good defender might find the play, but I'm not going to play the guy at the table for finding this (or congratulate him if he did).

 

Thus, if I see the pop of a K, I'm going to play RHO for AKx(x). If I see the pop of an A, I'm going to play RHO for Axx(x).

The man at the table was capable of popping King from KJxx, which he had.

[kenrexford]

I believe Ken, when he initially posted the problem, believed that the double of 2♠ was a reopening double, not a penalty double. That is my belief as well.

 

Opener, with a good hand and 6 clubs, would probably have rebid clubs either immediately over 2♠ or after his partner doubled 2♠.

 

Why would RHO be doubling 2♠? Clearly, his trump are inadequate for a low level double. While he may have had heart length (someone has to) and he was willing to defend 2♥ (or he had no action over 2♥) the double of 2♠ should be for takeout.

 

So, I do not expect RHO to be short in clubs.

RHO held a stiff spade, two clubs, six hearts, and four diamonds.

[kenrexford]

BTW -- one other note. The pips might come in to play, although I don't remember the spots. Q108x is more interesting, or some Q10-something bolstered by dummy's 8-whatever.

[Echognome]

I think you can guage pretty well RHO's diamond honors if he pops.

 

Suppose he holds Kxx.  Do you think it's so clear for him to pop K at trick 2?  I mean sure, there are some very good defenders who would find the play, but I'm not sure our man at the table would and besides it gives LHO AJx

 

If RHO holds Axx, then it's possible he would pop A and also possible he would hope you are going for a guess and ducking.  The point is that he has no choice but to pop A.

 

Finally, suppose RHO has AKx(x).  If he pops, do you think he would pop K or A?  I think he would pop K to clarify the suit for his partner.  I think it would be a deep play for him to pop A and later try to give you a guess.  Yes it's possible and again a good defender might find the play, but I'm not going to play the guy at the table for finding this (or congratulate him if he did).

 

Thus, if I see the pop of a K, I'm going to play RHO for AKx(x).  If I see the pop of an A, I'm going to play RHO for Axx(x).

The man at the table was capable of popping King from KJxx, which he had.

KJx(x) is not something I considered initially. I think that holding is more interesting as you now know it's not a guess for the J. If declarer has AQx(x) and is playing this way, he's fully-intending to play the Q here. So I guess that's a possiblity. I still think most players would not pop.

[nige1]

Dealer: West Vul: E/W Scoring: MP

♠ 9xx ♥ QJ108x ♦ xx ♣ K9x ♠ AQJ10xx ♥ [space] ♦ Q10xx ♣ Axx

West opened 1♣.  North jumped in with an ugly 2♥ and was relieved to hear South correct to 2♠.  East doubled this, the final contract. 1♣-2♥-P-2♠ P-P-X-P- P-P   West's lead was a small club. What precisely are you playing for?  (One of the options is present, but...)

Good problem Ken :) I agree with the popular line:

• Win ♣K on the table.
  
• Lead a ♦ -- which RHO wins :angry:
  
• Finesse RHO's ♠ switch -- your ♠Q losing to LHO's ♠K :P
  
• Win ♠ return as cheaply as possible in dummy'.
  
• Finesse ♦T -- losing to ♦J :(
  
• Win ♠ return in dummy.
  
• Lead ♥Q ruffing if RHO covers (probably ruffing anyway).
  
• Cash ♣A.
  
• Duck a ♦ still succeeding when :)
  • Remaining ♦ honour is tripleton
    
  • RHO has unlikely holdings such as♠ x ♥ Kxxxxxx ♦ A98 ♣ xx or
    ♠ x ♥ Axxxxxx ♦ K98 ♣ xx or even
    ♠ x ♥ AKxxxxx ♦ K98 ♣ xx if RHO covers ♥Q or you guess this :)
    

[kenrexford]

<!-- NORTHSOUTH begin --><table border=1> <tr> <td> <table> <tr> <td>Dealer:</td> <td> West </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Vul:</td> <td> E/W </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Scoring:</td> <td> MP </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td> <table border='1'> <tr> <th> <table> <tr> <th class='spades'>♠</th> <td> 9xx </td> </tr> <tr> <th class='hearts'>♥</th> <td> QJ108x </td> </tr> <tr> <th class='diamonds'>♦</th> <td> xx </td> </tr> <tr> <th class='clubs'>♣</th> <td> K9x </td> </tr> </table> </th> </tr> <tr> <th> <table> <tr> <th class='spades'>♠</th> <td> AQJ10xx </td> </tr> <tr> <th class='hearts'>♥</th> <td>  </td> </tr> <tr> <th class='diamonds'>♦</th> <td> Q10xx </td> </tr> <tr> <th class='clubs'>♣</th> <td> Axx </td> </tr> </table> </th> </tr> </table> </td> <td> West opened 1♣.  North jumped in with an ugly 2♥ and was relieved to hear South correct to 2♠.  East doubled this, the final contract.

1♣-2♥-P-2♠

P-P-X-P-

P-P

 

West's lead was a small club. What precisely are you playing for?  (One of the options is present, but...)

</td> </tr> </table><!-- NORTHSOUTH end -->

Good problem Ken :) I agree with the popular line:

• Win ♣K on the table.
  
• Lead a ♦ -- which RHO wins :angry:
  
• Finesse RHO's ♠ switch -- your ♠Q losing to LHO's ♠K :P
  
• Win ♠ return as cheaply as possible in dummy'.
  
• Finesse ♦T -- losing to ♦J :(
  
• Win ♠ return in dummy.
  
• Lead ♥Q ruffing if RHO covers (probably ruffing anyway).
  
• Cash ♣A.
  
• Duck a ♦ still succeeding when :)
  • Remaining ♦ honour is tripleton
    
  • RHO has unlikely holdings such as♠ x ♥ Kxxxxxx ♦ A98 ♣ xx or
    ♠ x ♥ Axxxxxx ♦ K98 ♣ xx or even
    ♠ x ♥ AKxxxxx ♦ K98 ♣ xx if RHO covers ♥Q or you guess this :)
    

Note that, at the very end, you still have options if you have Q108x, or Q107x with the eight originally in dummy, or Q106x if dummy had held 87 tight, via smother of the 9.

 

An interesting late psychological play pops up. Suppose that you have Q107x or Q106x and this layout becomes a Q108x equivalence because someone played the 8, or the 8 and 7. Several options...

 

Were the pips forced? Maybe this was H87 or 987? Maybe H8x or 98x?

 

Were the pips used as count signals without expectation that this would matter (a clear mistake, it seems)?

 

Were the pips played as a falsecard? Which way does one falsecard here? Create a false impression of a boxed 9 or a boxed honor? I would guess boxed nine, but not sure.

 

What if each opponent threw a high pip, one the 87 and one the 8 to make the 6 in play?

 

Heck, even Q1043 could be an interesting holding, if the last cards are the top diamond, something above the 4, and the deuce.