Which line

[ewj]

[hv=d=w&v=n&n=s86hajxxdkqxxcajx&s=sathkxxdaxxckt8xx]133|200|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

Auction goes 2D multi (weak two in either major or strong either minor), partner doubles which is 13-15 bal or any strong hand (19+ generally)...RHO XXs, which says bid your suit partner...and you bid 3NT. LHO is an agressive preemptor but a good player so not an idiot.

 

4 of spades spade lead to the K and your ace....8 tops, surely you can make this....Say you cash 3 rounds of diamonds...LHO pitches a spade on the 3rd round.

 

Do you:

 

a) Cash two top clubs and fall back on the heart hook if that fails

 

:P Cash two top hearts (not much happening here) and then hook the club through RHO.

 

c) Or exit in spades (4th leads so LHO almost certanly only has 4 left)

[effervesce]

Exiting with a spade gives up the chance of 3 overtricks (3 IMP if they make 3NT at the other table) which is not insubstantial. Exiting with a spade may not gain either.

 

Thus I will cash two top hearts, then hook RHO for the club queen.

[SlickRicky]

Hi,

 

Playing a spade would be very poor as the opponents have 5 tricks to cash if they can figure it out -- 4 spades and 1 diamond. They will have communication to do this since spades are 5-4.

 

As far as which AK to cash, I am willing to make the inference that RHO is not 4-4-4-1 since he chose not to bid at least 3H p/c. I am also willing to make the inference that LHO would not preempt with 5-4 in the majors. This makes hearts 3-3 so we have a full count, RHO is 4342, LHO is 5323. This means the HQ will never drop. The percentage play now is AK of clubs (40 %), and falling back on the heart finesse (50 %) for a 70% chance of success. This beats the alternative line, playing LHO for the CQ, which is 60 %.

 

What happens if I made faulty assumptions? Well if LHO can have 5422 for a multi then this line is still best.

 

Ricky

[ewj]

RHO is 4342, LHO is 5323.

In which case they could only cash 3 spades if you exited.

 

LHO does have 6 spades.

 

There is no real reason why either queen should definitely be with RHO. He has 3 spades and 4 diamonds, while LHO has 6 spades and 3 diamonds.

 

If you cash AK of clubs and the queen doesn't fall, then if it is Qxx onside then the hearts are 3-3 so the finesse may well be right...if Qxx offside then of course neither line works.

[ewj]

Incidently I hooked the club into LHO's QX and went two down, after cashing two top hearts. :(

[gnasher]

I exit in spades. If LHO cashes his winners, on the first two I throw a heart and ♣J from dummy, and two clubs from hand.

 

At this point I can still decide to try for ♥Qx and then the club finesse, throwing a diamond from dummy on the last spade. At the very least, this line saves an undertrick when LHO is 6223 with ♣Q. When he has finished cashing his spades, he has to exit with a heart, allowing me to play the jack.

 

Alternatively, I can try for a squeeze by throwing another heart from dummy on the last spade, and then guessing which rounded suit honours to cash.

[ewj]

Hehe, unfortunately RHO has KJx of spades and so the opps can take the spades and the 4th diamond!

[gnasher]

Hehe, unfortunately RHO has KJx of spades and so the opps can take the spades and the 4th diamond!

I should have thought of that. With QJ9xxx LHO would probably have led the queen, so a spade exit is playing for specifically QJxxxx - K9x and some subsequent benefit. It doesn't seem such a good idea any more.

 

I rather admire LHO's opening. Did he have ♥Q, to make his hand the almost perfect Q97xxx Qxx xx Qx ?

[ewj]

Hehe, unfortunately RHO has KJx of spades and so the opps can take the spades and the 4th diamond!

I should have thought of that. With QJ9xxx LHO would probably have led the queen, so a spade exit is playing for specifically QJxxxx - K9x and some subsequent benefit. It doesn't seem such a good idea any more.

 

I rather admire LHO's opening. Did he have ♥Q, to make his hand the almost perfect Q97xxx Qxx xx Qx ?

Yup :(

 

I said they were aggressive preemptors