Jump to content

Make this grand


mr1303

Recommended Posts

[hv=d=w&v=n&n=sajxhakq10dakxxxcx&s=sqxxhxxdqjxxxcaxx]133|200|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

Bidding proceeds:

 

(3C) X P 4D

P 4NT P 5D

P 7D all pass

 

LHO leads the Q of clubs.

 

What's the best line to make this? If it helps, LHO is a known Walrus.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Dealer: West
Vul: N/S
Scoring: IMP
AJx
AKQ10
AKxxx
x
Qxx
xx
QJxxx
Axx
 

 

Bidding proceeds:

 

(3C) X P 4D

P 4NT P 5D

P 7D all pass

 

LHO leads the Q of clubs.

 

What's the best line to make this? If it helps, LHO is a known Walrus.

there are 3 possible lines which in common win 5, A and 2 ruffs the remaining tricks come from 1) a simple finesse 2) a squeeze where you test the first and use the T as a simple show up squeeze on the West hand or 3) cash the A and use the Q as squeeze card without testing the first. I think the bidding indicates that the last one is the one that will succeed most often. A 3=0 break is a minor nuisance since you have to risk a ruff with a low trump

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you make the reasonable assumption that LHO holds 7 clubs, the only time he could guard hearts and spades would be 2407. If he follows to a single diamond, this is ruled out.

 

Therefore, I concur that cashing the spade ace and playing for a potential h/s squeeze against east is the better line.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm happy to be at these colours : if they were Vul and if they were playing Namyats, the Clubs could actually split 8-1. Here I don't think that a 8-1 club split together with a 3-0 trump split is at all likely. It means that I can ruff my clubs and count the minors in the process, without problems.

 

Will I be better placed to make a decision then ? I doubt it. The Vienna coup in Spades looks a better option than trying to drop the J and fall back on a Spade finesse, unless West is known never to open 3 with less than 6HCP even at these colours.

 

Even if East shows up with a xx23 hand, meaning West is probably 3316, I would not hook the Spade : if he feels he can open with ThAt, why does he need the K after all ?

 

This is really a kind of hand where knowing West's style is crucial.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you try drawing trumps in the process of ruffing clubs, you find out the following:

 

1) Trumps are 2-1 with West (the pre-emptor) having the singleton

2) RHO has Kx of clubs.

 

It is also very unlikely that LHO has 4 hearts, since on a previous board she has explained that she couldn't pre-empt having a side 4 card major.

 

She is also known to give count religiously (hence the comment about being a known Walrus).

 

However QJ10xxxx and out is probably an acceptable pre-empt at this vulnerability.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't know what west being a walrus means I'm suppose to assume. But the worse my opponents the more likely I just take a spade finesse (after testing hearts). There are plenty of players, and the weaker they are the more likely this is, who won't open 3 on QJT of clubs and out.

 

I know for the first however many years I played bridge, I would have opened 3 on Kxx xx x QJTxxxx but passed on xxx xx x QJTxxxx.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you try drawing trumps in the process of ruffing clubs, you find out the following:

 

1) Trumps are 2-1 with West (the pre-emptor) having the singleton

2) RHO has Kx of clubs.

 

It is also very unlikely that LHO has 4 hearts, since on a previous board she has explained that she couldn't pre-empt having a side 4 card major.

 

She is also known to give count religiously (hence the comment about being a known Walrus).

 

However QJ10xxxx and out is probably an acceptable pre-empt at this vulnerability.

Now I have extra chances :P.

 

I play the Q. If she's a Walrus she will cover it, but if she doesn't have it and has a doubleton she will start an echo. Then I can Vienna coup my Spades, and my highest small spade rates to be higher than her remaining spade. Thus I can cumulate chances.

 

And anyway now, she looks to be the kind of player would not open with only 3HCP.

 

One even better line : do like me, refuse to play against walrus.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...