play 6H

[manudude03]

[hv=pc=n&s=saj53hkt982daj7cq&n=s2haj65dkq65cat74&d=s&v=b&b=7&a=1hp3sp4cp4np5cp5dp5hp6hppp]266|200[/hv]

 

MPs scoring, strong field. How do you play this on the ♠Q lead?

 

edit after the first 2 replies:

 

If you lead a trump at any point:

 

You find LHO has all 4 trumps.

 

[robert2734]

A ♠ , A ♥ , K ♥ , four rounds of ♦ , A ♣ , ruff a ♣ , ruff a ♠ , ruff a ♣ , ruff a ♠ , ruff a ♣. They can ruff in with the queen third of hearts anytime they want. If the hearts break 4-0 I'm probably not making this but other lines no better.

[rhm]

At total points or IMPs there is a good case for playing a heart to the jack at trick 2 if West follows.

The contract is cold unless trumps are 4-0 and playing a heart to the jack has almost a 50% chance for an overtrick anyway.

So it might be the right play even at MP.

 

Rainer Herrmann

[robert2734]

A ♠ , A ♥ , now I need west to have three or more diamonds to make it, K ♦ , diamond to the jack, ruff a spade, diamond to the ace, ruff a spade, A ♣ , ruff a club, ruff a spade. Now I have ♥ K109 so I can concede the Q ♥ and claim.

 

West has the Q ♠ , so if he is short in spades and ruffs with the queen and returns a trump, my J ♠ is good so I'm ok.

[gszes]

This looks like a good contract and making should be sufficient to get us a very good board. Worrying about overtricks at MP is for those hands that look totally normal.

 

trick 2 ruff a spade (did lho not bid spades with KQTxxxx?)

trick 3 low heart toward the T (even if rho shows out) and see what happens

 

making 6 works anytime trumps are 31 and we still have great chances anytime trumps are 40 no matter which opp holds the 4 trumps. The finesse still gives us our chance at making 7.

 

This differs only a little from RHM line but seems a tad better when trumps break 40(with east) since the heart 7 can still be a problem if spades don't behave well.

 

Now I am going to read the spoiler and see how dumb I look sigh--------------------

[rhm]

On reflection it seems slightly better to run a middle heart at trick 2 should LHO follow.

Once RHO shows out, play safe.

Run another middle heart and then ruff a spade.

Cash the trump ace.

It only remains to return to hand safely to draw the last trump.

Does LHO have a void in diamonds or a singleton club?

Neither is likely.

Since East might have bid with a 7 card club suit and a void in hearts and West might have led a singleton club a club ruff may be safer.

Draw the last trump and discard a second spade later on the fourth diamond.

This plan requires only that LHO has 2 cards in clubs.

(A similar line, ruffing only one spade, works when LHO shows out on the first heart)

 

Rainer Herrmann

[Fluffy]

♠A, Spade ruff, ♦J, spade ruff with jack, ♦A, spade ruff with the ace, draw trumps and claim. Might be influenced byt hte spoiler.

[rhm]

♠A, Spade ruff, ♦J, spade ruff with jack, ♦A, spade ruff with the ace, draw trumps and claim.

This works unless either opponent has a singleton diamond and 4 hearts.

LHO or RHO will ruff the second diamond and return a spade, after which you will loose another trump trick.

 

Rainer Herrmann