Suit combination

[bridgeboy]

With no entry problems,

 

How do you play

 

J64

 

opp

 

K975

 

for

(i) Max tricks

(ii) 2 tricks

(iii) 3 tricks

(iv) 1 trick? :)

[han]

I think I know the answer to 3 tricks

 

It seems that for one trick, there are several equivalent lines, all failing when there is A108x on your left.

 

The best line for 2 tricks seems not so easy. My feeling is low to the jack, and if this loses to the queen, low to the nine. It isn't easy to figure out all the possibilities though.

[cherdano]

I assume for 3 tricks, there is nothing except to play LHO for the singleton 10 (lead the Jack).

 

For 2 tricks, I see two basic choices:

* Lead low to Jack, then back to the 9 if it loses or holds; lead a second time to the J if LHO goes up with the queen or A; if this looses to RHO, finally lead to the 9 (line 1)

* lead low to the 9; then back to the J if the finesse against the 10 worked, and try capturing RHO's Q if it lost to the 10, but captured RHO's 8.

 

Line 1 is better if LHO has

AQT

QT

T

 

Line 2 is better if LHO has

QT832

AT832

AT32

 

I am sure I have missed s.th., but if that is all, then line 1 is a tad better.