Plan the play

[firmit]

Contract was only 2♠ south, but I guess 4 is more interesting... - weast leads 2/4 leads ( xX / xXxX ) - A small heart, low from dummy - east playing low... plan the play - if different line of play in MP vs IMPS - pls do tell.

 

Dummy

♠ Q J 6

♥ K 8 x

♦ A Q x

♣ Q 9 x x

 

Hand

♠ A 10 x x x

♥ Q 10 x

♦ 10 x

♣ K 10 x

[MFA]

Unless something very weird is going on, hearts are Jxxx - Axx.

I'm going to continue with the ♥Q. Either east will let me in with the ♥K in dummy for the spade finesse or he will make some shift, which is also ok.

[firmit]

Unless something very weird is going on, hearts are Jxxx - Axx.

I'm going to continue with the ♥Q. Either east will let me in with the ♥K in dummy for the spade finesse or he will make some shift, which is also ok.

So you are not concerned about hearts xx AJxxx?

[Mosene]

My initial thought was spade ace then low spade (b/c of the possibility given of a heart ruff). I think I can handle even if 4-1 spades. I would do this at IMP's and even think giving up on 1 finesse at MPs might be OK.

[Tcyk]

It seems to me that the play at IMPs and Matchpoints would be the same. I would immediately take the diamond finesse. If it loses and east continues with the heart ace and a heart ruff. I've lost 3 tricks. I can still make my contract if the spade king is on side or I can find the club jack. The worst disaster would be for east to have the stiff diamond king. I think I can afford to risk this.

 

If the diamond queen holds the trick, I can afford to lose two hearts, two clubs and a spade. The hand would have to be very unkind for this to occur.

 

I think most of the field would play the hand the same way. I wouldn't be a big loser even if I were a big loser and it gives me a good chance of making overtricks.