Just Checking - III

[Phil]

Here's a hand I misplayed that occurred on the last board of a 28 board match. You were tied after 22, but the last five boards have gone south and its out of reach. Still you can salvage some respect:

 

[hv=pc=n&s=sa3hj962da72caqt4&n=skqha754djt9643c3&d=w&v=b&b=4&a=pp1c1np2cp2hp4hppp]266|200[/hv]

 

The lead is the ♠J. Wherever you win it, RHO plays the 8 (standard count).

[jillybean]

Hi Phil. Are we really in 4♥ after E opened 1♥?

[billw55]

edit: OP fixed

[ahydra]

I'm guessing, based on the opening lead, that the opening bid was actually 1♠? Otherwise my line will start "Win in dummy and run the H4..."

 

Running the jack of diamonds seems the best option, since you really need those diamonds to come in.

 

ahydra

[Phil]

Sorry, opening call was 1♣. I'll correct.

[kenrexford]

I will assume that the auction is as posted, because that is more fun.

 

RHO could easily have a 4-card heart suit with the Kbee the was in third seat. The spade suit is likely split 5-4 as well, such that RHO likely has 4-4 majors. To open this, I expect close to an opening hand but not quite, and probably not 4-4-1-4 with good clubs, as that would argue for a 1♣ opening. I want the club hook working, so I will give RHO ♠xxxx ♥KQxx ♦(K/Q)x(x) ♣Kx(x). (King or Queen of diamonds, with two or three, plus Kx or Kxx in clubs.)

 

Against that hand, I win the spade on Dummy, planning to hook the clubs, cash the Ace of clubs, ruff a club, hoping this holds (RHO with Kxx in clubs). That's four tricks for me. I now play the remaining spade to hand (trick 5), cash the diamond Ace (trick six), and hopefully exit a diamond to RHO's honor. Diamonds split 2-2, so my diamonds are now established. '

 

From this point, I hope to somehow end up with four more tricks. I am not sure how precisely that happens, but I think it does. Gut instinct. Too much to think about.

[Phil]

I will assume that the auction is as posted, because that is more fun.

 

knock yourself out :P

[ahydra]

with the Kbee the was in third seat

 

Heh, it's like the "adjusting the frequency dial on a radio" of forum posts. :)

 

Having second thoughts about that DJ. Suppose East is 4315 - not implausible given the info so far - then we need to win in hand then duck a heart. Suppose a spade comes back - win the King and play DJ next? Or cash the DA, playing for a singleton honour or 2-2? (You're out of entries if East has 3 diamonds and ducks the 2nd round)

 

ahydra

[Quantumcat]

Here's a line I would do at the table, probably wrong, needs hearts 3-2 and diamonds 2-2 or honour singleton (otherwise have to manage entries):

Win in south, play ace and 2 small hearts (except cover the ten, would rather West got the lead so he can't play clubs!). Win spade return, diamond to ace, diamond, if spade returned ruff in dummy and discard a club, play diamonds discarding clubs till somebody ruffs, then win club return with ace, 2 of hearts to the 7, discard any remaining losers on the diamonds.

 

You can probably manage entries better by not playing ♥A right away, but then there is a danger of someone getting a diamond ruff, and I'm not sure how much better playing for honours split is than 2-2 or honour singleton, whether it is worth any risk (I'm not sure exactly how much the risk is, either).

 

Edit: I thought there might be a problem if East has 3 diamonds, wins the 3rd round and tries drawing a trump and playing a club, but can just win and ruff a club to dummy, and there's no more trumps out so can run the rest of the diamonds. If he doesn't draw a trump, then can still win the club and ruff to dummy and start running the diamonds, then there is still a trump to get back with if he ruffs and plays a club. So, I think my instinctive line is solid, as long as the diamonds don't break x-KQx and the hearts are also 3-2.