How to play this?

[kayin801]

[hv=n=skhk98xxdaxxc108xx&s=saqj10hajxdxxxxckx]133|200|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

Contract is 4H after a 15-17 NT and a transfer. (I don't remember dealer and vul, but there was no interference). Lead is ♠7, 2/4 leads. Opps are strong players. What's your line?

[Cascade]

I am going to play to ruff a club in hand.

 

So win in dummy and lead towards the ♣ K

[Codo]

Waynes line.

 

They need a lot of clearvoyance to find the best defence and switch to diamonds.

In this case, I will cash my red aces, two spades and play my last club.

[the hog]

Win the K, pull a C to the K. What happens?

[Free]

Win the K, pull a C to the K. What happens?

Yeah, what else can one do...

[kayin801]

Okay, that was the first check, just making sure I wasn't crazy to do that. Next couple tricks:

 

Low club from dummy, small, K, A

Diamond K, A, small, small

Small heart to A, both following (agree?)

Two rounds of spades pitching my diamonds from dummy, both following, 9 of spades doesn't pop out

I exited a club, won by LHO with the Q (check two: agree here?)

Low club returned, 8, 9, ruff

 

Position left, to lose only one more trick:

 

[hv=n=shk98xdc108&s=s10hjxdxxxc]133|200|[/hv]

 

Now I guess the question is to whether to play LHO for the 4th club and crossruff or to play RHO for 10x and lead the heart J. Does LHO's failure to return a trump indicate the 2nd line?

[gnasher]

Woudln't you prefer to be in this position:

[hv=n=sh98xxdc108&s=s10hajdxxxc]133|200|(Still to play

on West's club

return)[/hv]

We could have reached here by taking the diamond discards at trick two, crossing to a heart, and leading a club up. From this position, we can cash a top heart, cash the spade, and cross-ruff, making whenever trumps are 3-2.

[kayin801]

@gnasher: Interesting, it does better retain communication. (I assume you had them exiting a diamond after the club to the K and A, as good as anything, a club or heart gives it right away) As the cards lay:

 

[hv=w=s97xxxhqxxdkqcaqx&e=sxxxh10xdjxxxcj9xx]266|100|[/hv]

 

It goes down, same as what I did, if a 4th spade is led from LHO before two rounds of trump are drawn. (We won't mention the 'obvious' line of leading the ♥J)

 

I guess I had two more thoughts:

1) As LHO defended as I played the hand up until I ruffed the 3rd club, if I assume his defense was accurate, should it indicate he had the ♥Q?

2) Is there any merit to starting with 3 spades pitching my diamonds and then starting clubs from my hand, thus retaining options in hearts? I can afford a spade ruff and 2 club losers so long as I have no heart losers. Or does it seem silly to give up on leading to the club K?

[Phil]

Woudln't you prefer to be in this position:

[hv=n=shk98xdctx&s=sthajdxxxc]133|200|Scoring: Unknown

♠ [space] ♥ 98xx ♦ [space] ♣ 108
♠ 10 ♥ AJ ♦ xxx ♣ [space]

(Still to play

on West's club

return)

We could have reached here by taking the diamond discards at trick two, crossing to a heart, and leading a club up.  From this position, we can cash a top heart, cash the spade, and cross-ruff, making whenever trumps are 3-2.

Yes, but wouldn't you like to be in this position even more?

 

Dealer: ????? Vul: ???? Scoring: Unknown[/hv]   So, win spade in hand, two more spades pitching diamonds, diamond to Ace.   Club to King (losing)   Diamond (ruffed)   Club lost.   At any time if LHO plays the 4th spade it looks right to ruff with the middle trump.