Playing in 6S - revisited

[killer_]

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Hi all, this is with reference to a friend's post about a week ago, planning the play in 6♠ with the K♥ lead. In the original problem he left out the T♥ in the South hand, which could be critical.

 

There are 2 general lines of play, the first by guessing the clubs and ruffing a heart in dummy (seemed popular), the second by crossruffing after discarding 2 clubs. I was surprised to note that the second line seemed to be dismissed by many. Here's my explanation:

 

The play goes: A♥, AKQ♦ discarding clubs, club ruff, heart ruff, club ruff, heart ruff.

 

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Now assuming declarer can ruff safely back into hand the 3rd time in one of the minors, he cashes the K♠ and exits the T♥; if W wins, declarer is home (probable from the lead?) and if E takes the trick, S can still "finesse" for the J♠ by ruffing with T♠ on the next-to-last trick.

 

So if S is able to pull off the play without getting ruffed or overruffed, he can manage either an endplay or at worst a finesse. Note that this line doesn't rely on a favorable trump break (in reality, the trumps broke 4-1 with both AQ♣ offside :P)

 

Is this line superior to simply playing a club at trick 2? Appreciate comments.

 

 

PS Something to think about for line 1: If at trick 2 a club to the J forces the A♣, then on a diamond return declarer is forced to ruff back into hand TWICE (once to ruff the last heart and once to draw trumps) eventually - entailing substantially higher risks. This is assuming opps will rise with A♣ in a slam seeing AKQ♦ in dummy.

[MrAce]

[hv=pc=n&s=skqt832hat63d5c72&n=sa5h8dakq8ckjt943]133|200[/hv]

 

Hi all, this is with reference to a friend's post about a week ago, planning the play in 6♠ with the K♥ lead. In the original problem he left out the T♥ in the South hand, which could be critical.

 

There are 2 general lines of play, the first by guessing the clubs and ruffing a heart in dummy (seemed popular), the second by crossruffing after discarding 2 clubs. I was surprised to note that the second line seemed to be dismissed by many. Here's my explanation:

 

The play goes: A♥, AKQ♦ discarding clubs, club ruff, heart ruff, club ruff, heart ruff.

 

[hv=pc=n&s=skqt8htdc&n=shd8ckjt9]133|200[/hv]

 

Now assuming declarer can ruff safely back into hand the 3rd time in one of the minors, he cashes the K♠ and exits the T♥; if W wins, declarer is home (probable from the lead?) and if E takes the trick, S can still "finesse" for the J♠ by ruffing with T♠ on the next-to-last trick.

 

So if S is able to pull off the play without getting ruffed or overruffed, he can manage either an endplay or at worst a finesse. Note that this line doesn't rely on a favorable trump break (in reality, the trumps broke 4-1 with both AQ♣ offside :P)

 

Is this line superior to simply playing a club at trick 2? Appreciate comments.

 

 

PS Something to think about for line 1: If at trick 2 a club to the J forces the A♣, then on a diamond return declarer is forced to ruff back into hand TWICE (once to ruff the last heart and once to draw trumps) eventually - entailing substantially higher risks. This is assuming opps will rise with A♣ in a slam seeing AKQ♦ in dummy.

 

[hv=pc=n&s=skqt8htdc&n=shd8ckjt9]133|200[/hv]

 

1- Coming to hand safely maybe a problem and even if you can you are down if East takes the ♥T . K of ♥ lead doesnt mean he has the J, he is leading vs slam after all.

 

East may also ruff 4th ♥ sometimes from xx or even xxx(x)to promote partners Jx. :)

 

2-About the second line, after ♣J loses to A and ♦ back (your defense) declarer is NOT forced to ruff to hand twice (although he can if he wants to) because he doesnt need to ruff any ♥ to dummy if 3-2 ♠ or stiff J. He doesnt even need 3-2 clubs. He can take the ♦ return, and clear trumps and claims his 12 tricks even if 4-1 ♣! 6♠+2♣+3♦+1♥ =12 ;)

 

Welcome to BBF by the way :)

[killer_]

For point 1, like I said, if E takes the T♥, it simply comes down to a finesse for the J trump. The club line requires the club finesse AND 3-2 trumps.

 

Point 2 is true, I overlooked the repeat of the club finesse.

 

It comes down to choosing between playing for a favorable distribution in one minor, and 3-2 trump break. The second fails once the bad break is revealed, but the first can have additional chances (for example if E shows out or drops the Ace on the second round of clubs, then the 3rd club ruff can be assumed to be safe)

[MrAce]

For point 1, like I said, if E takes the T♥, it simply comes down to a finesse for the J trump. The club line requires the club finesse AND 3-2 trumps.

 

 

No, it comes down to finesse for the J of trump AFTER you survive coming to hand safely. You may misguess which suit was safe to get to hand, or you may not even have a safe way at all, assume LHO held

 

9xx

KQxxx

xxx

Qx

[sailoranch]

On the crossruff line, East may ruff with the jack from ♠Jx. If you overruff, it promotes West's 9xx. If you pitch your heart, it leaves East to lead a plain card for a promotion.

 

You're also going to have guesses when East ruffs jack from either ♠Jxx or ♠J9xx.