Best Line?

[mpefritz]

[hv=d=w&v=b&n=sat6hqjt76dt93ca8&w=sj984h543d872cqt9&e=s752hkdq654c75432&s=skq3ha982dakjckj6]399|300|Scoring: XIMP

P-1H-P-2NT(1)

P-3NT(2)-P-7NT(3)

 

(1) Jacoby 2NT

(2) 16-17 no singleton -- supposedly

(3) tank 1 minute counting tricks. I wrote "think". Opps message "hurry up or I'll call director" Figured better than 70% chance of taking all tricks, but should probably be in 7H to be safe at IMPS.

 

Lead: spade 4-A-2[/hv]

 

I am showing the full hand as the best line should not be influenced by where the cards are.

 

My plan was to win the spade on the board, hook in hearts, cash AK of diamonds (looking for Q drop since diamonds were longer than clubs) then run it is a a minor suit show up squeeze (or hook if the count was right). Does that seem reasonable? It doesn't work here.

 

However, the comments from opps distracted me a little, as did my kid waking up in the next room. I smoothly unblocked the spade K from my hand under the A at trick 1 ( but didn't realize until diamond AK were cashed -- then it was too late to attempt to recover. I needed a diamond hook to work at that point once I lost a natural spade trick.)

 

 

Two questions:

 

1) Suppose you, for some strange reason, did NOT want to "unblock" the spade K at trick one under the A. What is your planned line?

 

2) What if you decided to actually play the spade K under the A for a challenge -- like I did. What would your line be?

 

thanks,

 

fritz

[inquiry]

1) hook heart, cash AK of diamonds, three spades, run hearts, throw diamond away, and if diamon Queen not show up, I hook club.

 

2) I would not unblock spade king at this time, so can't answer this one.

 

Ben

[mpefritz]

I'm glad to hear Ben never misclicks to place himself in a worse situation.

 

I found this hand interesting that without the stupid play of the spade K under the A at trick one, the contract probably won't make on the best line as outlined by Ben on this layout.

 

However, after making the mistake of unloading the spade K under the A at trick one, this hand is much more likely to make on the best line you must play now. Any thoughts?

 

I make this claim based on the club spots I will see as I run my tricks (after, of course, the now necessary diamond hook).

 

fritz

[inquiry]

When Ben Misclicks, he ask for a redo.. and most people on BBO very nice and of course readily allow it.. :0)