Choice of lines

[paulg]

[hv=d=s&v=e&n=sj73hq5daqt876ca9&s=sak65hjt8762dck53]133|200|Scoring: IMP

North South

        1♥

2♦     2♠

2NT    3♥

4♥     All pass

 

Lead: ♣4[/hv]

 

How do you play this?

[Codo]

unsuccessfully of course.

 

First line: club club club ruff, spade discard, queen of heart. Needs clubs 5-3 with the sohrtness left or the nine of heart left and hearts 3-2 or singelton 9.

 

Second line: AS above but ruff with the queen and play a heart to the jack. Needs the 9 of hearts singelton or doubelton.

 

Third line: As B but finesse in hearts.

 

Fourth line: win the king of clubs and play a heart. Discard the club later on diamond and hope to play the spades for one loser. This catters for most heart layouts, but will fail when spades misbehave.

 

I choose number 4.

[Hanoi5]

I go with the above first line. I also win if ♠Q is second, in case hearts do not behave or there is a promotion.

[655321]

I would try to ruff as many diamonds as possible in hand.

Something like:

1. ♣K

2,3. ♠A, ♠K

4. ♣A

5. ♦A pitching a spade

6. ♦ ruff low

7. ♣ ruff low

8. ♦ ruff low.

 

If that has all gone according to plan, exit with a spade. Now the opponents need to win a top trump in East, and lead a card (diamond?) through South's JT8 to have a chance, then ruffing low works when the ♥9 is onside, or West has to follow suit.

[paulg]

[hv=d=s&v=e&n=sj73hq5daqt876ca9&w=sqxxhk9xdkxxxxc42&e=sxxxhaxdxxcqjtxxx&s=sak65hjt8762dck53]399|300|Scoring: IMP

North South

        1♥

2♦     2♠

2NT    3♥

4♥     All pass

 

Lead: ♣4[/hv]

 

I have no idea what the best line is, but I know what worked at the table.

 

Playing to ruff clubs will fail if you cash the ♦A early as West has an easy exit after the trump promotion.

 

Playing to lose a single spade is the easiest winning line.