Rate a Slam #11

[inquiry]

[hv=d=s&v=n&n=sk8752h983dj83ca2&s=sa9hakqdakqt9cj73]133|200|Scoring: MP

2C (P) 2D (P)

3N (P) 4H (P)

4S (P) 5N (P)

6N (X) All pass

 

Opening lead: H2

 

T1. H2-h9-hj-hk

 

Plan your play. [/hv]

 

2♦ bid denied AJxxx, KJxxx, AKxxx, AQxxx, KQxxx of any suit.

4♥ was jacoby promising five plus spades.

5NT was pick a slam

[quiddity]

Assuming West isn't just messing around, he probably has the club KQ and a spade stopper for his double. The question is whether the stopper is QJx, requiring an early spade duck, or QJxx in which case we need to duck a club to rectify the count. Ducking a spade will not work because a club return will knock out the squeeze entry. I guess I'll duck a club; it works for more cases (including QJT), and I don't think a double is likely with just QJx.

 

It's probably best to run a few diamonds first (we can run 4, discarding a spade, without losing either chance), but I doubt it will reveal anything meaningful.

[gnasher]

There's no need to guess LHO's shape immediately. Cash the diamonds (throwing one heart and one diamond) and two of the hearts before deciding. With six cards left:

- If LHO has kept three clubs, he can have only three spades, so give up a spade.

- If he has kept four spades and ♣KQ only, play clubs to set up the jack.

 

Edit: I bet I'd end up going down in a completely cold slam, LHO having doubled with QJx xxxx xx xxxx

Edited February 3, 2010 by gnasher

[quiddity]

I don't understand - without playing on spades or clubs how can we know whether west has kept 2 clubs or 3? Isn't it still a guess?

[gnasher]

Yes, we still have to read the layout, but we can delay it until we've seen them discard on all five rounds of diamonds. In fact, if we're sure that LHO started with ♠QJ and he hasn't throw an honour, we can cash all three hearts too, because RHO can't get in.

 

It's very hard to defend this sort of position correctly without signalling; if they do signal, that will tell us how to play it.

[inquiry]

If LHO has a spade stopper (four or more to some nice honor combo) and the club king as quiddity guessed (he in fact does), he will be killed by one of either two squeeze.

 

[hv=d=s&v=n&n=s

k8752h983dj83ca2&w=s

qt64ht73d764ckq6&e=s

j3hj643d52ct9854&s=s

a9hakqdakqt9cj73]399|300|Scoring: MP

The full hand was

[/hv]

 

[hv=d=s&v=n&n=s

k8752h983dj83ca2&w=s

qt64ht73d764ckq6&e=s

j3hj643d52ct9854&s=s

a9hakqdakqt9cj73]399|300|Scoring: MP

The full hand was

[/hv]

 

Another choice would be to not to duck a trick at all, but just run all your red cards. The ending would be something like this....

 

[hv=d=s&v=n&n=s

k8752h983dj83ca2&w=s

qt64ht73d764ckq6&e=s

j3hj643d52ct9854&s=s

a9hakqdakqt9cj73]399|300|Scoring: MP

The full hand was

[/hv]

 

I guess teh only decision is to play for a squeeze or to go for 3-3 spades. Note ducking a spade will not work on this hand (try it), you have to duck a club or nothing. When this hand was played in the real world, the opening lead was king of clubs, which would force you to duck (now 3-3 spades does not help). Five out of six declearers went down on the club king lead. It is harder without the club lead I think.

 

Ten votes, averaging 3.2. I think this hand is much more difficult that #7, but they have similar ratings. Oh well. That is why I asked for your help in rating them. I think 3.2 is just about right on this one, btw.

[kgr]

I guess the only decision is to play for a squeeze or to go for 3-3 spades.

Isn't this making the 2nd line much better then the 1st one?

You also win when Spade are 3-3 (play on S if no ♣K or ♣Q).

[inquiry]

I guess the only decision is to play for a squeeze or to go for 3-3 spades.

Isn't this making the 2nd line much better then the 1st one?

You also win when Spade are 3-3 (play on S if no ♣K or ♣Q).

Wont the hand without the KQ of clubs win the spade and cash a side suit winner? Of course if you could Duck a spade to hand with the clubs (say he had QJx of QJT) and couldn't unblock successfully, it would be better. But all he need do is dicard a high spade instead of a low one (except with QJT) and he can keep from being forced to win his side's spade.