Can you make this rank slam?

[zenbiddist]

6NT South Edit: if you find the problem unpalatable, pretend you're in 3NT and it's matchpoints.

 

♠AQ86

♥K98

♦8

♣K9865

 

♠32

♥Q73

♦AKQ532

♣A3

 

♣4 led after an I-have-stuff tank and some questions from LHO.

(The diamonds are 3-3 and the ♠K is onside).

[mikeh]

You don't seem to be attracting answers, and it probably isn't because the problem is too hard, but because it is really not a good problem.

 

Nobody in their right mind would be in 6N, given that 3N is not exactly cold.

 

In addition, the solution requires a very improbable lie of the cards, at least if the solution is as I think it to be.

 

 

win the club in hand, hook the spade, cash the spade A, run the diamonds reducing to Qxx Kx in dummy (hearts and clubs) and hoping LHO was 2=4=3=4 with the heart A. Now on the last diamond, he is forced to reduce to Ax in hearts, and we pitch the club from dummy...lead a heart to the Q and duck a heart coming back.

 

[wanoff]

There is at least one more solution, again not very likely.

 

Win the club in hand, finesse the spade, heart to Q, run the diamonds reducing to Ax Kx in dummy (spades and clubs) and hoping LHO was 5134 without the heart ace. Now on the last diamond, he is squeezed in the blacks. In similar vein would be the microscopic KJ109 spades/xx hearts

 

[mikeh]

There is at least one more solution, again not very likely.

 

Win the club in hand, finesse the spade, heart to Q, run the diamonds reducing to Ax Kx in dummy (spades and clubs) and hoping LHO was 5134 without the heart ace. Now on the last diamond, he is squeezed in the blacks. In similar vein would be the microscopic KJ109 spades/xx hearts

 

the OP made it very clear that we were to place LHO with the heart A :D Otherwise I agree....and of course we can always decide to play for one or other of the opps to hold Ax in hearts.....simply early on lead through that hand and then duck a heart around on the way back. Not that anyone would choose that line :D

[wanoff]

the OP made it very clear that we were to place LHO with the heart A :D Otherwise I agree....and of course we can always decide to play for one or other of the opps to hold Ax in hearts.....simply early on lead through that hand and then duck a heart around on the way back. Not that anyone would choose that line :D

 

I read it as the tank that often precedes a Potter lead.

For those unfamiliar with this type of lead, it's the 4th best lead and originated in Birmingham UK, though the method is probably played quite widely.

[Fluffy]

Math question: Once we place ♠K on west, isn't it better to play west for 5♠-2♣ than 2♠-4♣?

[zenbiddist]

the OP made it very clear that we were to place LHO with the heart A :D Otherwise I agree....and of course we can always decide to play for one or other of the opps to hold Ax in hearts.....simply early on lead through that hand and then duck a heart around on the way back. Not that anyone would choose that line :D

 

True, at the table my LHO gave the impression from her questions, pauses and intensity that she had the major-suit stuff. I played low in dummy at trick one and RHO played the ♣T - now the club lead looks nothingy and aimed at not giving anything away, so probably RHO has three+ clubs and three diamonds. If you presume LHO has the ♥A, there's no legitimate way to get LHO in spades and clubs, is there, because dummy pitches first? So don't you have to now play for LHO to be long in spades like Fluffy said? If so, how would you play? Is it right to sneak a heart trick from LHO then cash all the minors? I'm wondering if there's another legitimate line - that's why I haven't shown the full deal yet - interested in strong players' analysis. My partner certainly overbid and I should have bid 6♦ not 6NT, but considering I was there, I think it's a cool hand

[wanoff]

True, at the table my LHO gave the impression from her questions, pauses and intensity that she had the major-suit stuff. I played low in dummy at trick one and RHO played the ♣T - now the club lead looks nothingy and aimed at not giving anything away, so probably RHO has three+ clubs and three diamonds. If you presume LHO has the ♥A, there's no legitimate way to get LHO in spades and clubs, is there, because dummy pitches first? So don't you have to now play for LHO to be long in spades like Fluffy said? If so, how would you play? Is it right to sneak a heart trick from LHO then cash all the minors? I'm wondering if there's another legitimate line - that's why I haven't shown the full deal yet - interested in strong players' analysis. My partner certainly overbid and I should have bid 6♦ not 6NT, but considering I was there, I think it's a cool hand

 

Fluffy posed 5-2 (spades/clubs inc KS) as being more likely than 2-4. I'm not sure but probably, however 5S-(C any) must be more likely than 2-4. So lets consider what may happen if W has 5S.

Say W holds ♥A you could play a heart to the K, cash ♣K and run diamonds. West will be squeezed in the majors.

There are also extra chances if the ♥K is taken by the A. If E has 5H it looks like the double squeeze will work. Granted E can take out the ♣K to kill that, but then there will be a club/major simple squeeze against one of them.