another normal hand

[kgr]

[hv=pc=n&s=sa7432hkt8dk2ckq3&n=sq8hj7daqj7c98642&d=s&v=e&b=3&a=1np3nppp]266|200|IMP's on BBO[/hv]

Lead is ♠T: ♠T-Q-J-4

Declarer next plays ♣ from dummy (agree?): ♣2-5-K-7

How (and why) would you continue from here?

Thanks,

Koen

(I underlined the card that takes the trick; bold the card of declarer: is there any standard convention on how this should be done?)

[rhm]

It looks to me that your best chance is to hope that RHO has the ♣A and one of the minors to be breaking. Cash ♦s discarding ♠s and play another ♣ from dummy.

Even if ♣ do not break you next establish a ♥ for your ninth trick before opponents can take 5. Likewise if ♦ are 5-2 you should still make if ♣ break.

This assumes that either ♠s break 5-1 and at least one ♥ honor is with RHO or if ♠ are 4-2 that RHO has the ♥A.

You have to go up with the ♠A if opponents continue with ♠.

The alternative of playing for ♣s to break and playing next a low ♣ from hand is unlikely to work since opponents will probably try to establish 3♥ tricks, unless the ♥Q is on or either opponent had ♣Ax.

Of course LHO may have ducked the ♣A.

 

Rainer Herrmann

[kgr]

It looks to me that your best chance is to hope that RHO has the ♣A and one of the minors to be breaking. Cash ♦s discarding ♠s and play another ♣ from dummy.

Even if ♣ do not break you next establish a ♥ for your ninth trick before opponents can take 5. Likewise if ♦ are 5-2 you should still make if ♣ break.

This assumes that either ♠s break 5-1 and at least one ♥ honor is with RHO or if ♠ are 4-2 that RHO has the ♥A.

You have to go up with the ♠A if opponents continue with ♠.

The alternative of playing for ♣s to break and playing next a low ♣ from hand is unlikely to work since opponents will probably try to establish 3♥ tricks, unless the ♥Q is on or either opponent had ♣Ax.

Of course LHO may have ducked the ♣A.

Rainer Herrmann

Thanks Rainer.

Don't you always need the Heart trick if RHO has Club Axx?

I did run the spade from dummy (RHO not following), hoping that I could end-play LHO some time in spade for trick 9. How bad was that?

[rhm]

Thanks Rainer.

Don't you always need the Heart trick if RHO has Club Axx?

Of course (unless you try establishing ♣, which I do not suggest). But the timing is crucial. Opponents are likely to switch to ♥s next, which will likely give them 3 tricks or more in ♥s plus the ♣A. So they may have 5 tricks quickly. Therefor you need to establish your ♥ trick last as your ninth trick, so that opponents can not cash length tricks there before you cash 9.

 

I did run the spade from dummy (RHO not following), hoping that I could end-play LHO some time in spade for trick 9. How bad was that?

If I would see 8 tricks. But again I would expect them to establish ♥ next. Now they very likely will have at least 4 tricks before the end-play can materialize.

 

Rainer Herrmann

[MrAce]

It looks to me that your best chance is to hope that RHO has the ♣A and one of the minors to be breaking. Cash ♦s discarding ♠s and play another ♣ from dummy.

Even if ♣ do not break you next establish a ♥ for your ninth trick before opponents can take 5. Likewise if ♦ are 5-2 you should still make if ♣ break.

This assumes that either ♠s break 5-1 and at least one ♥ honor is with RHO or if ♠ are 4-2 that RHO has the ♥A.

 

♠ 4-2 and RHO has ♥ A and ♣ 3-2 with Ace onside ,5-2 ♦.

 

When u play 2nd ♣ from dummy after 4♦, he takes his ♣ A, cashes 5th ♦ if he had 5 (doesnt matter who has 5), and exits with his last ♠. Seems like they can score 2♠+1♦+1♣+1♥ if i am not missing something.

 

Regardless though Rainer, your line seems to me the best, as usual. :)

[kgr]

[hv=pc=n&s=sa7432hkt8dk2ckq3&w=skt965h964dT53cA7&n=sq8hj7daqj7c98642&d=s&v=e&b=3&a=1np3nppp]366|250|IMP's on BBO[/hv]

Thanks of the answers.

This was the complete hand.

The actual play didn't really matter given the position of the ♥ honours.