Instructive declarer play hand from Jacoby Swiss in Louisville

[BudH]

[hv=pc=n&s=sqj973ha5dq72caq6&n=st8542hq962da53c4&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=pp1sd2c3h3sp4sppp]266|200|2♣ = artificial 4+ trump single raise[/hv]

 

From the Jacoby National Swiss, Louisville NABC

 

* 2♣ = artificial 4+ trump constructive single raise

 

Also, partnership agreement is that 1NT is not opened with five spades.

 

North, the takeout doubler, leads the ♥3 playing 3rd and lowest. You put up the queen which wins.

 

Plan the play.

 

 

Bud H

[rhm]

The bidding is a bit over the top.

 

I would play:

 

♥ace;♣ace;♣ruff,♥ruff;♣ruff;trump

If RHO wins and plays a ♦ do not cover and win with the ♦ace. Now you can ruff the last ♥ high and if not over-ruffed exit with a second trump.

As long as LHO has at least one trump honor and not all ♠ you are home without the ♦ finesse.

 

Ruffing the fourth ♥ immediately is dangerous. LHO might over-ruff and return a small trump to partner.

 

Rainer Herrmann

[BudH]

The "one of two finesses of the minor suit kings" line was the winner.

 

At the table, a trump was led from dummy and the stiff spade ace won on

declarer's right. Now a low club was led. At this point, declarer must now

guess which of the two minor suit kings is onside. He can't take advantage

of trying for either minor suit king onside.

 

On the bidding, there are very few lies of the cards where one minor suit

king won't be onside where you can legitimately make the hand. If both

minor suit kings are offside, then RHO will hold AK or AKx of spades and

will have easy exits.

 

RHO had A JTxx xxx KTxxx. Opening leader (doubler) LHO had Kx Kxx KJTx

J9xx.

 

Kx

Kxx

KJTx

J9xx

 

QJ9xx T8xxx

Ax Q8xx

Qxx Axx

AQx x

 

A

JTxx

xxx

KTxxx

[rhm]

The "one of two finesses of the minor suit kings" line was the winner.

Sorry I do not buy this. I think your recommended line of play is inferior.

My line wins against this layout too and some where your line looses.

 

On the bidding, there are very few lies of the cards where one minor suit

king won't be onside where you can legitimately make the hand. If both

minor suit kings are offside, then RHO will hold AK or AKx of spades and

will have easy exits.

You got your argument the wrong way round and seem to have overlooked the line of play I suggested.

If LHO has all side suit kings, where your line will fail, there is still a good chance that LHO will hold a trump honor for his takeout double. (my line succeeds)

RHO does not need much to compete after the takeout double with 3♥. Few would pass again over 2♠ with for example ♠A,♥JTxx,♦Jxx,♣JTxxx, in particular when not vulnerable.

On the other hand if RHO has a minor suit king, which your line requires, then LHO is marked with a trump honor. (This is your argument turned around.)

In this case if LHO had no ♠ honor, he would not have a takeout double with only 2 kings, only 3 cards in the unbid major, and at most a couple of jacks and RHO, who had passed already, might have bid 4♥ over 2♠ with ♠AK and a minor suit king, since a 3♥ bid in this sequence is competitive and not very invitational.

LHO is unlikely to hold ♠AKx for his takeout double, but if he does, you can still try the ♦ finesse on my line.

Otherwise if LHO has at least one ♠ honor the partial elimination I suggested will work and if LHO does not have a ♠ honor, where my line fails, LHO is marked with all side suit kings for his takeout double and your line fails too.

 

Rainer Herrmann