Best line?

[vuroth]

11th hand of a 12 hand tourney. 9 of diamonds is led, and suddenly the phone rings - and the person on the other end simply won't leave a message

 

 

[hv=d=n&v=n&n=sakt985h4dk542cq9&s=s4ha3dajt87ca8532]133|200|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

West North East South

 

 -     1♠    Pass  2♦

 2♥    2♠    Pass  4♣

 Pass  4♦    Pass  5♦

 Pass  Pass  Pass  

 

Is there a line that's clearly better than the others? I just picked one, but was pretty frazzled, and may have flubbed this one badly.

[vuroth]

Yeah, that's what I thought looking at the hand this morning. :D

 

At the table, I won with the diamond ten. A diamond to the king, then back to the ace showed the 9 had been single. LHO discarded the 5 and 2 of hearts.

 

I had decided that, with a heart entry assured, I would knock up spades for the tricks. A low spade to the ten held, and when spades split 3-3, I had all 13 tricks.

 

Afterwards, I wondered if I wasn't better ruffing out a spade or two. Alas, with entries so limited, I'm not sure if either of those two lines can even handle a 4-2 spade split.

 

The first thought I had at the table was a black suit crossruff, but dummy's spots are too poor, and the likelihood of short clubs on the right too good.

 

In the end, I really didn't have a very strong idea, so I just randomly picked a line. Maybe, in the end, that was ok here.

 

V

[bid_em_up]

To assure making 5, I would think the best line is:

 

Win diamond in hand, A of clubs and another club (alternatively, play a small club towards dummy for chances at six). As long as clubs are no worse than 4-2, you can ruff one club in dummy with the diamond king, and subsequently finesse the diamond Q (losing just two clubs, at most).

 

This basically loses only to RHO having a stiff club, which I think is unlikely given the bidding, contrary to what you believe.

 

jmoo.