Endplay or suitcombo?

[Fluffy]

[hv=d=n&v=b&n=s96543hj72dak7cqx&s=saj10872hk1084dj62c]133|200|ps-(ps)-1♠-(2♣)

4♠-(ps)-ps-(5♣)

5♠-all pass[/hv]

 

Lead is ♣A, spades are divided (LHO having the King if it matters)

 

Had no clue how to play the board

[the hog]

The lead has given you a tempo as opposed to a D lead.

I would ruff, cash SA, lead a S to dummy, ruff another C and play a H towards the J. If H break 3-3 or if the 9 of H comes down in 2 rounds you will have a pitch for the low D in dummy. Seems like the best line to me. There is also the possible rise of Honour X from lho.

[dellache]

Just play Heart to the ten. If it loses to the queen, play then Heart to the King. If it still fails hope for 3-3 Hearts, or H9 falling. I don't see any interest in eliminating Clubs.

[shevek]

Dis North really bid 5♠? If he passes, South will bid 5♠, if he doubles, South still might.

[Fluffy]

Dis North really bid 5♠? If he passes, South will bid 5♠, if he doubles, South still might.

North is the sponsor, and he can barely count his HCP. I am glad he could count his trumps this time. Yesterday was one of the funniest seasons I ever had, appearing on top of the ranking when your partner usually forgets to ruff when you play the suit he is void in. But that's another story.

 

So far 2 players picked different lines for the hearts. What is the best play for 2 tricks?

[Codo]

I would go with low to the ten cross cross in spades if nec. low to the jack, finesse nine if both tricks are lost.

Hearts are quite likely 5-1 or 4-2 with the club bidder being short.

[gnasher]

Given the bidding, hearts are more likely to be 2=4 than 3=3. If it comes to it, I'll finesse against East's ♥9 rather than playing for 3-3.

 

However, I'd like to have tested diamonds before I do that. I don't want RHO to lead a third round of hearts before I've cashed the top diamonds. Hence I want West to be on lead with the second round of hearts.

 

Eliminating clubs will help if West has a singleton diamond and is on lead after the second heart.

 

So:

 

Ruff with the jack and draw trumps.

Heart to the jack, losing to the queen.

Win the (say) diamond return.

Ruff a club with the ten.

Play a trump to dummy (keeping one entry to each hand)

Heart to the king, losing to the ace. (If it doesn't lose, cross in trumps and play another heart. I still have a trump entry to hand to cash the heart.)

Test diamonds.

If the queen doesn't drop, play a heart to the 8.

 

That loses only to:

- ♥A9x on my left with ♦Q guarded and 2+ diamonds on the left.

- ♥A9xx on my left with ♦Q guarded, as long as LHO ducks the second heart.

Edited December 15, 2009 by gnasher

[dellache]

Oups I thought it was East who bid 5♣ ! So my line is nonsense. Gnasher is probably right, I'll rethink about it.

[Fluffy]

since it was matchpoints, I just stopped thinking lines and just run ♥J looking for 12 tricks, it didnt matter much

 

[hv=n=s9xxxxhjxxdakxcqx&w=skhqxxdqcak10xxxxx&e=sqhaxxd109xxxxcjxx&s=saj10xxxhk10xxdjxxc]399|300|[/hv]

 

Just for the fun, 2 firends of mine bid this way:

 

pass-(pass)-2♠

 

Now west hesitated for long time but then passed.

 

North was about to bid 4♠ against anythign, but after the pass he thought he could just buy it with 3♠ wich would be much better.

 

RHO bid now a ridicoulous 4♦ based on the tank and bought the contract.

 

South led ♠2 trying to get as many club ruffs as possible. You can imagine his face when he didn't only pick stiff ♠K in dummy but also stiff ♠Q on declarer's :)