A declarer problem

[flytoox]

Opps are silent, you reach 6H as south, west lead DK.

 

S: AKX

H: 9XXX

D: JX

C: AXXX

 

S: XXX

H: AKJTX

D: AXXX

C: K

 

Plan your play.

[Double !]

OK, I'll take a stab: seems right to duck the first trick, take the second, and count tricks: I need 2 ruffs in dummy (needs 2-2 heart break) unless there is some squeeze position (might need to ruff a club at some point- have a miniscule recessed spade menace), and I can pitch a losing spade in hand with C-Ace. So, what happens after unblocking the club king and playing a high trump. BTW- never take my suggestion on declarer play: have a reputation for going down 2 in contracts that others make with an overtrick.!!!!!

[pclayton]

Since this is the B/I section - BIllies should ask themselves these questions:

 

How do I play the heart suit and what heart distributions will give me cause for concern?

[Double !]

Oops, sorry. (Was thinking about where the 12th trick might come from if hearts don't break 2-2 or queen doesn't fall on 1st round of playing trumps.)

 

Count your tricks. How many winners do you have off the top, how many potential losers you have, and what might you be able to do about eliminating them. Do I need to trump some losers? If I pull trumps first, will there be enough left to trump my losers and give me the number of tricks that I need? On this hand, you appear to have a definite diamond loser, and you need to be able to do something about the other two small diamonds in your hand- maybe trump them in dummy. What heart situations will permit this, is there a risk of over-ruff?

Does ducking the first trick help? Yes, unless diamonds are 6-1