How would you play 4SX?

[S2000magic]

I played this hand a couple of days ago, and the rust is showing: if I stop playing for a while my (bridge) brain goes to mush.

 

You (North) hold:

 

♠ A Q 4 2

♥ 5

♦ A K 9 8 5 3

♣ K 4

 

Partner holds:

 

♠ J 9 7 5

♥ A 8 7

♦ 10

♣ Q J 9 5 3

 

East dealt, and the bidding was:

 

East - South - West - North

Pass - Pass - Pass - 1♦

1♥ - Dbl. - 2♥ - 3♠

Pass - 4♠ - Dbl. - Pass

Pass - Pass

 

Opening lead: ♥4

 

(Trumps split 4 - 1; if you win the ♥A (West playing the ♥9) and lead a club, West wins the ♣A and returns the ♥3; when you play diamonds, East follows with the ♦J, Q.)

 

How do you play 4♠X?

[gszes]

I would be more worried about trumps splitting 50 but I will deal with the

stated 41 break (while not specified it is almost assuredly with west - a

passed hand holding 1 heart honor and the club A needs a lot of spades

for a penalty x) and LOP.

 

exit with the spade Q. It matters not which opp wins the trick but lets assume it

is west. <<<If both opps duck the spade Q merely play the A and start playing good

diamonds the opps can never win more than 2 spades (to go along with club A)>>>.

 

if they return a spade u win in hand and play another spade to the A (opp has 1 trump

left) and play dia until west decides to ruff and the dummy is good with club K as entry.

 

if they return a dia win and pitch a club and keep playing dia (pitching clubs until west

ruffs--note that all your clubs are now good) if w returns a clubwin in hand spade to the

A and a spade back to your hand draw the last trumps and you claim with good clubs.

 

if they return a heart ruff in dummy cash the spade A and the club K now play dia until

west ruffs win the trump heart or club return in hand pull the last trump and claim.

 

In the unlikely event East is the one with the long trumps using this LOP gives you a

fair chance of making 5 (though east will probably have to make a mistake).

 

 

 

 

 

[S2000magic]

. . . the dummy is good with club K as entry.

I just want to be sure we're on the same page: North is declarer (and has the ♣K); South is dummy.

 

You say to exit with the ♠Q; how are you coming to hand to do that? Or are you finessing the ♠Q?

[PhilKing]

I just want to be sure we're on the same page: North is declarer (and has the ♣K); South is dummy.

 

You say to exit with the ♠Q; how are you coming to hand to do that? Or are you finessing the ♠Q?

 

He's followed your stated line of leading a club up, ruffing the heart and cashing the top diamonds, getting the good news. Now the ♠Q ...

 

That looks like ten tricks to me. It's not my line, but you have basically told us how the cards lie.