Matchpoint turmoil

[manudude03]

[hv=pc=n&s=skj742ha6daj96c64&n=shkqj5d752caqj975&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=1cp1sp2cp3nppp]266|200[/hv]

 

MPs scoring. Weakish field, but opps would be one of the stronger pairs in the field. You get the ♥9 lead. Suppose you win in hand and take a club finesse. It wins (opps playing the lowest two missing pips on the clubs playing reverse count). Now do you cross in diamonds to take another finesse or do you try and drop the king?

[nige1]

[hv=pc=n&s=skj742ha6daj96c64&n=shkqj5d752caqj975&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=1cp1sp2cp3nppp]266|200[/hv] MPs scoring. Weakish field, but opps would be one of the stronger pairs in the field. You get the ♥9 lead. Suppose you win in hand and take a club finesse. It wins (opps playing the lowest two missing pips on the clubs playing reverse count). Now do you cross in diamonds to take another finesse or do you try and drop the king?

1. If LHO was dealt singleton ♣x, then prospects are bleak.
2. If LHO was dealt tripleton ♣K or ♣KTxx, then re-entering hand to finesse again works best.
3. If LHO was dealt a doubleton ♣K or If RHO has ducked with doubleton or tripleton ♣K, then you should continue with ♣A. Ducking with a doubleton ♣K is slightly risky, because, on a different deal, declarer might have 4♣s and know what to do. IMO, 3N is a good contract, which may not be reached at all tables. And the ♥ lead has done you no harm. Hence, against reasonable players, you should probably continue with ♣A. If an opponent was dealt ♣KTxx, that's unlucky but you still might be able to develop ♦ tricks.

[rhm]

Tough decision, mainly because it is matchpoints.

At IMPs against a reasonably strong East player cashing the ♣A looks right, loosing only if the remaining three clubs are all with West, while ducking the club king is almost automatic for a good East player.

At matchpoints the decision is tougher and depends to what extent you believe 3NT to be a normal contract. On a different lead against 3NT declarer would probably always repeat the club finesse

Assume you go to the diamond ace and the second club finesse loses.

It is still much against the odds that the defense can now manage to cash 4 further tricks single dummy.

So repeating the finesse looks right at matchpoints and it is more a matter of overtricks than safeguarding the contract.

 

Rainer Herrmann

[PhantomSac]

[hv=pc=n&s=skj742ha6daj96c64&n=shkqj5d752caqj975&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=1cp1sp2cp3nppp]266|200[/hv]

 

MPs scoring. Weakish field, but opps would be one of the stronger pairs in the field. You get the ♥9 lead. Suppose you win in hand and take a club finesse. It wins (opps playing the lowest two missing pips on the clubs playing reverse count). Now do you cross in diamonds to take another finesse or do you try and drop the king?

 

Totally depends on RHO, but if you are going to play the CA then dont play a diamond to the ace first, make your decision before then. And it is not about trying to "drop the king" necessarily, it is also about RHO having Kxx.

[PhantomSac]

Tough decision, mainly because it is matchpoints.

At IMPs against a reasonably strong East player cashing the ♣A looks right, loosing only if the remaining three clubs are all with West, while ducking the club king is almost automatic for a good East player.

 

Rainer Herrmann

 

You still have pretty decent play even if clubs are 4-1 and you play the CA. I don't think it's at all close at imps.

[gszes]

Our max number of tricks is 11 without help from the opps. The real question is how worthwhile is the going for the max (leading a dia to the A for a second club finesse). When we play a dia to the ace we are potentially establishing the setting tricks for the opps (though they may be tough to untangle) if the 2nd finesse fails to bring in the club suit.

 

IMHO I think the best course of action is to cash the club A at trick 3 and continue the suit if it can be set up for 5 winners. If the clubs prove to be 41 (on or offside) we are in position to lead a dia from dummy toward the 9 and try to make 3n via 2c 4h 3d and maybe a spade.

[Fluffy]

I would cross to hand to take the finesse every day of the week. I've seen world class Easts winning ♣Kxx to cross spades before partner gets in or something. There is always some kind of fear that ducking will be stupid and not enough time to consider everything.