A play problem

[Simplicity]

[hv=d=n&v=n&n=sa9xhxdq7xxcakqtx&s=sqxxhakqxdakjxcxx]133|200|Scoring: IMP

Contract 7♦

lead ♥8[/hv]

 

EW play 2/4 leads and RHO contributes the ♥J

 

All the x's are pretty tiny

 

Plan the play

[vuroth]

A♥

QAK♦, hoping they split. End in hand.

KQ♥

AK♣. If both follow, I'm home. If LHO shows out on the second, Q, T ruffing.

A♠, ♣

Win final trick with 7♦ :(

 

Since that was so easy, I'm sure the powers that be will find a way to make with diamonds 4-1, and clubs not 3-3. I couldn't see it.

 

V

[manudude03]

My initial thoughts to it...

 

 

When you first count your tricks, you only appear to come to 11 (3C 4D 3H + 1S). This goes up to 12 if you ruff your small heart. If clubs are 3-3 or diamonds are 3-2, this contract has no problem since you can establish the clubs. When clubs are not 3-3, and diamonds are 4-1 you can also make it if the hand with the long clubs also has the King of Spades.

 

Win the lead, ruff the small heart, small diamond to the A then back to dummy with the Q.

 

If both follow, draw the last trump and get the clubs established.

 

Otherwise cash the ♠A and draw the remaining trumps, cash the remaining 2 heart winners (discarding spades and a club at the end) and before cashing your last red winner, you will have something like this:

 

[hv=d=n&v=n&n=shdcakqtx&w=sxxhxdcxx&e=skhdcjxxx&s=sqxhqdcxx]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

On the final red winner, East will be squeezed in the black suits allowing you to either score your ♠Q or run the clubs. It also works if West held East's remaining cards.

 

[georgeac]

i could plan the play, but before i can do that, can someone explain 2/4 leads as well as 3/5 leads. I hear both of these frequently and am not sure what they mean. Thanks

[Finch]

i could plan the play, but before i can do that, can someone explain 2/4 leads as well as 3/5 leads. I hear both of these frequently and am not sure what they mean. Thanks

Although they sound similar, they actually have very different meanings.

 

"3/5" fairly consistently is used to mean

- 3rd highest from an even number

- lowest from an odd number

(even though this should actually be called "3rd and low")

 

So from 10642 you lead the 4, from 106432 you lead the 2

 

3/5 is sometimes used to mean

- 3rd highest from an even number

- 5th highest from an odd number (>=5)

 

"2/4" has come to mean different things in different countries. In the UK, it means

- 4th highest from length to an honour (bottom from 3 to an honour)

- 2nd highest from length without an honour

 

So from J432 you lead the 2, from 9432 you lead the 4

 

Depending where you are in the world, you either lead top or bottom from a doubleton. Many people think "2/4" includes leading the 2 from 82 doubleton. Many other people think it only applies to length leads (what to lead from 4 or more cards).

 

So both of these explanations are not actually very helpful in practice, as they can mean different things to different people!