phantom menace

[Fluffy]

[hv=pc=n&s=sj9h7dat3caqj9842&n=sak653hqj9dkck653&d=w&v=n&b=12&a=1d1sp2cp2dp2np3nppp]266|200[/hv]

 

The bidding is not very good, but you are stuck here in 3NT at match points, ♦Q is led.

[Hanoi5]

It depends on the opponents. I might try for all 13 tricks by cashing the clubs or play a heart towards dummy and then all the clubs for 12.

[rhm]

West seems to be marked with both tops in hearts and the ♠Q.

Play for 12 tricks is easy:

Cash the spade tops before running clubs.

A good West might blank the diamond honor, keep one top heart and a spade. If that is the case cash the diamonds.

But most West will keep one heart and 2 diamonds. Play a heart in the three card ending.

 

But you should try for 13 tricks. This always works if West has four spades.

Run clubs to this position:

 

[hv=pc=n&s=sj9h7datcaq&w=sq84hakdj2c&n=sak32hqj9dc&e=shdc]399|300[/hv]

 

Most West will come down to the cards shown. If at this point you have seen a spade discard from West you can be pretty sure that West is in sole control of the spades.

Play your penultimate club. If West is in sole control of the spades both West and North must discard a heart.

Next play your last club and whatever West discards you have the remainder.

If spades are 3-3 in the above ending, West can escape by discarding spades down to the stiff queen provided East keeps control of spades.

When you play a spade and the queen appears you can return to the spade jack to force West to discard a heart.

Next throw him in with a heart for 12 tricks.

 

Rainer Herrmann

[Fluffy]

On the hand leftie had ♠10x ♥AKxx ♦QJ9xxx ♣x, cashing the spades was needed, I was punishing myself for not playing ♠AK before, but I failed to notice ♠J was normaly acting as a squeeze card.