Trumpace Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 You are in 3NT, playing Rubber Bridge. West leads a heart and RHO plays the Q. You see: [hv=d=s&v=n&n=sajt3h2d432cakjt9&s=sq92hk43dakjt9c32]133|200|Scoring: RubberLead heart, RHO plays ♥Q[/hv] Plan the play. (As usual Adv/Adv+ please refrain from posting spoilers too early). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finch Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 (As usual Adv/Adv+ please refrain from posting spoilers too early). All I shall say is that this is quite a lot harder than it looks at first sight. A hidden hint follows It is an easier problem if you make the spade suit AJ87 in dummy and Q109 in hand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtK78 Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 Hidden: I believe that the best play would be to cash the AK in both minor suits, looking for a singleton or doubleton Q to fall (which gives you 9 tricks immediately) and, failing that, play for 4 spade tricks by leading the 9 of spades for a finesse. The only other point is that the last minor suit winner that you cash must be a diamond winner in hand so that you can be in hand to take the spade finesse at trick 6. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trumpace Posted March 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 ArtK78, please! Spoiler = solution, whether hidden or not. I believe you fall in the Adv/Adv+ bracket... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trumpace Posted March 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 (As usual Adv/Adv+ please refrain from posting spoilers too early). All I shall say is that this is quite a lot harder than it looks at first sight. I agree, but I still think this is the right forum for this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vuroth Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 Win 1, try to drop both minor queens. Failing that, Queen ♠ discarding the Ten, then run the 9? The obvious play seems to be repeated ♠ finesses using ♦ entry to return to hand, but I think the above line is 1-2% better at rubber? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trumpace Posted March 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 Win 1, try to drop both minor queens. Failing that, Queen ♠ discarding the Ten, then run the 9? What if the 9 gets covered? Say, LHO has K87x. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vuroth Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 Ahhh. So run the 9 first? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trumpace Posted March 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 Ahhh. So run the 9 first? Yes! So, just so it is clear to other B/Is, can you please state your line of play starting at trick 2 and if possible try to explain the reasoning of why you chose it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtK78 Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 Sorry. Will refrain in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vuroth Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 Ahhh. So run the 9 first? Yes! So, just so it is clear to other B/Is, can you please state your line of play starting at trick 2 and if possible try to explain the reasoning of why you chose it? I can try. It's rubber bridge, so my criteria is to give myself every chance to make, even taking risks along the way. Assuming I win the first trick (and it would be exceedingly dangerous and probably pointless not to), I have 6 top tricks - 1 spade, 1 heart, 2 diamonds, 2 clubs. There are 3 possible sources of 3 more tricks: ♠ - finessing the King with LHO. Note that if LHO has Kxxx, we may need to finesse 3 times♦ - either opponent has singleton Q or doubleton Qx♣ - either opponent has singleton Q or doubleton Qx In theory, combining my chances (i.e. picking up 4 clubs tricks and 4 diamond tricks) is possible, except that I'm going to lose a LOT of heart tricks, so I'll be down before that ever happens. Line: Win K♥Cash AK♣. If the Q falls, I have 9 tricks.Cash AK♦. If the Q falls, I have 9 tricks.If not, then I need the spade finesse to work. If it fails, I'm going down a lot, but if it fails I was never making anyways. Since I've burnt all my entries to hand, I have to ensure that I stay in hand for the first AND second round of spades. At first, I thought the order I played the first 2 rounds of spades didn't matter, but I was wrong. We need to start with the 9 of spades, playing low from dummy if the K does not appear. Next, we play the Queen. Then, low to the jack. If I play the queen first and THEN, the 9, a clever LHO can put the King on my 9. I would need to win the Ace, but that would leave me with J3 on the board. If either opponent started with 4 spades, I'm down now. If I start with the 9, it does LHO no good to cover at any point. V Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vuroth Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 These hands are a bit harder to learn when you play in a world where no defender EVER holds up an honour. :rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanp Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 Nice to see Art getting a compliment, he's been treated harshly lately. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trumpace Posted March 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 <snip> If I play the queen first and THEN, the 9, a clever LHO can put the King on my 9. I would need to win the Ace, but that would leave me with J3 on the board. If either opponent started with 4 spades, I'm down now. Nice writeup, V. Just a minor point: if you play the Q and drop the T from dummy, then LHO shouldcover the 9. If you don't drop the T, LHO should play low on the 9, leaving you stranded in dummy (you will have to overtake the 9). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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