German Open Team Qualifying 5th hand

[Gerben42]

And a declarer play problem

 

[hv=pc=n&s=sa93ha863da9ckj76&n=st4hkqj9754dq4c32&d=n&v=n&b=5&a=2d(Multi)p2n(ask)p3s(Maximum%20%21H)p4hppp]266|200[/hv]

 

Opening lead: ♠Q

[Fluffy]

duck the lead is obvious. Play then 3 rounds of trumps specially if they are 2-1. RHO will make 2 discards not knowing that I have 4, and hopefully will reveal something on the minors. Next eliminate spades and then...

 

if LHO has ♦K any line makes, except playing for diamonds to be ♦J10-K, that would require to play ♦Q from dummy and then diamond to the 9. I don´t think I´d ever trust enough opponent´s discards for playing that line though, so I would just exit ♦A+♦Q. This is better than playing clubs because LHO could have a stiff ♣ honnor (very rare) and then we make even missguessing.

[Codo]

Gonzalos line looks fine.

[whereagles]

Indeed.

[phil_20686]

duck the lead is obvious. Play then 3 rounds of trumps specially if they are 2-1. RHO will make 2 discards not knowing that I have 4, and hopefully will reveal something on the minors. Next eliminate spades and then...

 

if LHO has ♦K any line makes, except playing for diamonds to be ♦J10-K, that would require to play ♦Q from dummy and then diamond to the 9. I don´t think I´d ever trust enough opponent´s discards for playing that line though, so I would just exit ♦A+♦Q. This is better than playing clubs because LHO could have a stiff ♣ honnor (very rare) and then we make even missguessing.

 

If LHO has the diamond K I can make it by eliminating the spades and playing a club to the J. He cannot switch to diamonds, and rho cannot rise with the ace or I have ten tricks, and if he continues a club I am obviously home too. This line will also win if rho has the diamond K and the club Q, so it seems better, if only because it gives oppo more chances to go wrong.

 

 

 

[gnasher]

So far as I can see, Phil's line gains over Fluffy's when LHO has ♣Q, doesn't have ♦K, and plays back a club when he wins ♣Q. Would he ever do that?

[Gerben42]

[hv=pc=n&s=sqj65htdkj765cq95&w=st4hkqj9754dq4c32&n=sk872h2dt832cat84&e=sa93ha863da9ckj76]399|300[/hv]

 

This was the full hand. Three tables went down in 4♥.

[phil_20686]

[hv=pc=n&s=sqj65htdkj765cq95&w=st4hkqj9754dq4c32&n=sk872h2dt832cat84&e=sa93ha863da9ckj76]399|300[/hv]

 

This was the full hand. Three tables went down in 4♥.

 

I dont understand how you go down? There are two reasonable lines and both make? Did they embarassingly miss the routine elimination? Decide to try the Chinese finesse before guessing clubs? Try for a bizarro squeeze line?

[phil_20686]

So far as I can see, Phil's line gains over Fluffy's when LHO has ♣Q, doesn't have ♦K, and plays back a club when he wins ♣Q. Would he ever do that?

 

If you have the J of diamonds alone is it that obvious that declarer doesn't have ATx diamond and a stiff club? Particularly if you have AQ club and the J diamonds without the ten. Surely a low club to the stiff J or JTx is routine extra chance after drawing trumps? I can still cross in trumps to take the diamond finesse.