Matchpoint play decision

[bd71]

[hv=pc=n&w=sahkq98743dkjct32&e=skq532h6dt43caqj4&d=n&v=n&b=5&a=1d1s2d2hp3cp3hppp]266|200[/hv]

 

Matchpoints.

 

Trick 1: ♠4 (4th best), 2, 6 (standard attitude), A

 

You want to go to dummy for your two discards on good spades...do you take the club finesse to get there, risking the diamond tricks if it's off? Or do you play to the ♣A and take a sure thing?

 

If field matters to you, this is in North American Pairs B district finals. North is known to be good "B" player, South is unknown.

[billw55]

The finesse may be a favorite on the bidding, but if it fails and a diamond comes back, I could go down. With this many high cards, some pairs may be in game; an overtrick won't matter against them, but going down might. So I will protect my plus score, ♣A, ♠KQ pitching ♦KJ.

[RunemPard]

If we are expecting many to be playing game...maybe our best option is to not do the finesse and hope the others are relying on it. It seems like it shouldn't fail, but by avoiding the finesse we ensure the plus and possibly get a good score if it doesn't work for those in game?

[SteveMoe]

The finesse may be a favorite on the bidding, but if it fails and a diamond comes back, I could go down. With this many high cards, some pairs may be in game; an overtrick won't matter against them, but going down might. So I will protect my plus score, ♣A, ♠AK pitching ♦KJ.

What billw55 said...

works well against a lurking AJ10x trump holding off side.

Since we're MPing, will lead ♥6 toward the K, hoping for Ax, AJ or A10 onside (5 cases).