3NT plan the play

[lorserker]

http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?d=e&n=sqt753hq9djtcat76&s=sk2hk74daq6ckj854&s=e&a=p1n2h2np3cp3sp3nppp

 

We end up in 3NT after a Lebensohl sequence.

West leads the ♥J and the queen from dummy holds while East plays the eight (standard count)

 

How do you plan the play further?

[wanoff]

Hearts are probably 6-2 and so clubs are not likely to break.

Entries are a problem so start on diamonds. If the diamond finesse wins, repeat and then play ♣A10 finessing.

If clubs are 4-0, then we need West to hold the ♠A

[lorserker]

the question is also how to tackle the clubs. if you play A then 10 you won't be able to pick up the suit if east has four clubs.

[nige1]

the question is also how to tackle the clubs. if you play A then 10 you won't be able to pick up the suit if east has four clubs.

Wanoff covered that eventuality. If ♣s are 4-0, then lead ♠K, hoping that LHO has ♠A. Wank's suggestion seems better than running ♣T without first cashing ♣A (which would lose to LHO's singleton ♣Q).

[lorserker]

on trick two, if you run the diamond jack and it loses, how will you get a second entry needed to pick up the clubs if west has something like: Axx AJTxxx Kxxx -

[nige1]

on trick two, if you run the diamond jack and it loses, how will you get a second entry needed to pick up the clubs if west has something like: Axx AJTxxx Kxxx -

If LHO can win the ♦ and he has a ♣ void and ♠A. then he can return a ♥ to leave you without resource.. Unlucky. Nevertheless, for a non-clairvoyant declarer, wanoff's line seems OK..

[lorserker]

i agree, i was just thinking if we can justify playing the ten of clubs at trick two.

if it loses to the stiff queen, and hearts are cleared we can fall back on the diamond finesse.

i guess it's just the question of which is more likely: west being void in clubs, or west having stiff queen plus diamond king

i don't know :)

[nige1]

i agree, i was just thinking if we can justify playing the ten of clubs at trick two. if it loses to the stiff queen, and hearts are cleared we can fall back on the diamond finesse. i guess it's just the question of which is more likely: west being void in clubs, or west having stiff queen plus diamond king. i don't know :)

I think a void is a tiny bit less likely but the difference is too trivial to worry about.

 

On reflection, however, playing on ♣s before ♦s seems better i.e. ♥Q, ♣A, ♣. If RHO shows out on the 2nd ♣, you can play ♣K and another.

[Cyberyeti]

Hearts are probably 6-2 and so clubs are not likely to break.

Entries are a problem so start on diamonds. If the diamond finesse wins, repeat and then play ♣A10 finessing.

If clubs are 4-0, then we need West to hold the ♠A

 

J♦ holds, when you repeat W wins and plays a third diamond.

 

When you subsequently play a spade, W flies the A♠ from AJ, plays his 4th diamond to E who puts a heart through, unlucky.