You're about to claim but...

[mr1303]

[hv=pc=n&s=s6hat5dakj632ckt3&n=sak42h7dt854ca642&d=s&v=b&b=7&a=1d1hdp3d3h4hp4np5hp5np6dp7dppp]266|200[/hv]

 

You get the Q of spades lead and you win in the dummy, before playing a diamond to the ace. Unfortunately West shows out at this point.

 

Any suggestions? If you play ace and another heart, ruffing in the dummy, East plays an ominous looking Q on the second heart.

[ahydra]

I've tried and failed to construct winning squeeze positions (eyeing up the ♣10, which suggests a double squeeze - but East would have to guard spades and West hearts, so the menaces are on the wrong side). So time to ruff a third heart and just hope it stands up - after cashing the CA, of course.

 

ahydra

[Fluffy]

not that hard, you just ned west to hold 4 clubs. I Am looking for something better but I am not finding it yet.

 

 

EDIT: There is another option: ♣QJ stiff in west, which is not so unlikely given his strong bidding. So we could cash ♣K before cashing ♠K, and west could falsecard with ♣QJxx and we have some fun.

[Hanoi5]

The Heart Ten is terribly placed. Had we ruffed a spade we might have a squeeze against west, but not anymore, I guess.

[ggwhiz]

I think you can untangle your back and forth by playing 2 spades, pitch a club then when you get the bad news in trumps ruff a club good ( you need them 3-3) ruff a heart and play the good club.

 

Ruff, overuff and you can pull the last one with a trump in dummy for your last heart or pitch it and finesse.

 

It's too late now though so unless two heart ruffs live we're down. We were always cold if that were the case and always pitching a club on the spade so doing that at trick 2 gives a small extra chance.

[johnu]

With West bidding 3♥ at this vul, I don't think ruffing 2 hearts is going to work. You could play for a club-heart squeeze if W has 4+ clubs, but missing 6 clubs and 8 spades, I think playing W for 3 clubs is better. ggwhiz has the right idea for this line, ♣K and then small club to ♣A (no problems if W unexpectedly plays QJ), high spade pitching a club, ruff a club, ♥A and ruff a heart. If clubs were 3-3, then playing the winning club from dummy gives E a choice of losing plays. Ruff and get overruffed, allowing declarer to draw trump and ruff the 3rd heart, or pitch, allowing declare to pitch the last heart and take a winning diamond finesse.

[TWO4BRIDGE]

I like John's 3-3 ♣ split angle ( post # 6 ) .

[ggwhiz]

I like John's 3-3 ♣ split angle ( post # 6 ) .

 

Plus he catered to the double QJ of clubs possibility which I missed.

[mr1303]

And that would've worked on the actual layout.

 

West held

 

S QJT

H KJxxxxx

D Void

C QXX

 

Thanks all.

[RSClyde]

And that would've worked on the actual layout.

 

West held

 

S QJT

H KJxxxxx

D Void

C QXX

 

Thanks all.

I don't understand players who won't just bid 3♥ the first time with such hands: I get that this isn't the point of the post but still.