an easy one today

[Fluffy]

[hv=d=w&v=n&n=sxxha109xxdaxxcqxx&s=sakjxxxhdkxxxxckx]133|200|(1♣)-1♥-(ps)-4♠

[/hv]

 

west leads ♥Q against 4♠ plan the play.

[bluecalm]

ruff in hand, play x♣ to Q♣; assuming W hops with his ace we now have 2♣, 2♦, A♥, 2 ruffs in hand which is 7 tricks and we need to score 3 more with our AKJx of ♠ which should prove to be easy after playing A♠ and exiting with our last ♦.

 

This guards against ♠QTxx with W.

[cloa513]

Why west would hop up with Ace of clubs, he has no reason to think partner has one club so as to give a ruff surely east has four hearts. You probably can't easily place the heart honours if West is leading smart then QH maybe hiding the king or not.

[655321]

Why west would hop up with Ace of clubs

He might not, but it doesn't matter he is well and truly (Morton's) forked.

[Free]

Use the forks!

[gszeszycki]

fork is a great LOP however at trick 2 I lay down spade ace THEN lead low club, This prevents east from ruffing 3rd round of clubs and forcing me to overruff with J

(see how important spots are?) and guaranteeing 2 spade losers when W has QT9x of spades

[ArtK78]

fork is a great LOP  however at trick 2 I lay down spade ace THEN lead low club, This prevents east from ruffing 3rd round of clubs and forcing me to overruff with J

(see how important spots are?) and guaranteeing 2 spade losers when W has QT9x of spades

What third round of clubs?

 

I ruff opening lead in hand and lead a club. If LHO hops ace and plays a club, I win in hand. NOW I can lay down the ♠A if I choose to. There is certainly no reason to lay down the ♠A at trick 2 (although I don't see any obvious downside to doing so).

 

If West ducks the ♣A, I win the Q in dummy, pitch the ♣K on the ♥A and ruff a rounded suit card. If I want to lay down the ♠A now, that is find. There is still no third round of clubs being played yet.