6 HEART... Does opponents carding matter?

[inquiry]

[hv=n=sak85hk954daq6cq2&s=s92haqjt73dj75ca5]133|200|bbo hand, with bbo bidding...EW passing

1♥ 4NT

5♥ 6♥

Pass

 

Opening Lead ♥6 to 4 8 T

Trick TWO, ♥A-♥2-♥5- and either ♣9 or ♣2

Three rounds of ♠ West playing 3,4,J, East 6,7,T (thrid round ruffed)

♦7-8-Q-2

[/hv]

 

Plan your play... note if the play of the ♣9 or ♣2 has any influence on the line you choose. Does the experience/play level of EAST make a difference in your choice?

 

[hv=n=sak85hk954daq6cq2&s=s92haqjt73dj75ca5]133|200|bbo hand, with bbo bidding...EW passing

1♥ 4NT

5♥ 6♥

Pass

 

Opening Lead ♥6 to 4 8 T

Trick TWO, ♥A-♥2-♥5- and either ♣9 or ♣2

Three rounds of ♠ West playing 3,4,J, East 6,7,T (thrid round ruffed)

♦7-8-Q-2

[/hv]

 

(modified due to good comment from pretzalz)

Edited January 19, 2009 by inquiry

[pretzalz]

Did you consider double hooking the spades? None of the various squeezes and endplays seem terribly better than 50%[plus the diamond hook which I don't see a way around].. Double hooking spades is at least 74% and even has unlikely play for 7[though I assume this is IMPs where that consideration is largely irrelevant].

[inquiry]

Did you consider double hooking the spades? None of the various squeezes and endplays seem terribly better than 50%[plus the diamond hook which I don't see a way around].. Double hooking spades is at least 74% and even has unlikely play for 7[though I assume this is IMPs where that consideration is largely irrelevant].

Good catch. I did not play the bid or play the hand... I found it when looking at the results of others. I guess to remove the double hook one could change the ♠T to the a small spade. The East played a high club at the table, i wondered what affect, if any that card versus a low card would have.

 

To remove this possibility, i have modified the original hand.

[maggieb]

I will just try to strip squeeze west now.

[ArtK78]

It seems to me that while there may be some other squeeze chances, you have two lines that involve no guess work: Play LHO for both minor suit kings. Ruff out the last spade and play (1) A and another club or (2) A and another diamond. If LHO wins he must either provide you with a ruff and sluff or lead from his (presumed) other minor suit K.

 

Playing A and another club is slightly better than playing A and another diamond, since even if RHO has the ♣K it is possible that LHO's ♦K is doubleton.

 

There is a small chance that you can endplay LHO even when RHO has the ♣K. If you play LHO to have all the rest of the intervening club spots (or a holding that cannot be unblocked, such as JT9), you can lead the ♣Q from dummy, forcing RHO to cover. Then you continue clubs hoping that LHO must win. LHO will then be endplayed. If you are sure that RHO has the ♣K, then this is one possible line.

 

A better line if you are sure that RHO has the ♣K would be to play RHO for no more than 2 diamonds. Ruff out the last spade, cash the ♦A and play A and another club. If RHO wins and has no more diamonds, he must give you a ruff and sluff.

[nige1]

[hv=n=sakxxhkxxxdaqxcqx&w=sqjxxhxxdk9xcjxxx&e=stxxhxdtxxxcktxxx&s=sxxhaqjtxxdjxxcax]399|300|

Inquiry's deal is interesting and unusual..

After ♥TA, ♠AK, ruff a ♠.

Inquiry's title hint sign-posts the way:

Note RHO played ♠x, ♠, ♠T.

While LHO followed ♠x, ♠x, ♠J.

Unless RHO is Zia, LHO started with ♠QJxx.

Hence you can try running ♥ and cashing ♣A, to strip LHO of his ♣.

Only tthen, finesse ♦Q, and exit with ♠x, endplaying LHO to lead a ♦x.

-- if you have read the ending correctly.

This would have been easier to spot if Dummy's ♣Q had been a rag.

If LHO also has ♣K, he is triple-squeezed, making the ending easier to read.

[/hv]