Play 3N with most cards offside

[Jinksy]

T9x

T876

Ax

KQ9x

 

vs

 

AQx

Kxx

KJT

A8xx

 

The bidding, with S dealer:

1C (X) 1D*

1N** 3N

 

* Hearts

** 15-17

 

West leads a diamond.

[Cyberyeti]

Which diamond does he lead and from what style of leads

[Jinksy]

IIRC N was good enough that he wouldn't reliably lead a true card when he clearly had the huge majority of defensive strength, but let's say the 2 from 2/4.

[Kaitlyn S]

Against weak defenders, I would play for West not to unblock the DQ and win trick 1 with the D10, play a C to the CK, (assume no 10 or J), CQ, DA, C to CA, DK,C to dummy, S10 running it, and discard a heart on the fourth diamond. This doesn't work against strong defense as they can arrange for East to win the fourth diamond and punch through a spade setting up 5 tricks for the defense.

 

Against strong defenders, I hope to establish a heart trick before the opponents can get five tricks. I'm going to assume LHO doesn't have H-AQJ9 and run the 6 after playing a club to dummy. I presume West wins and leads a diamond. Hopefully East plays an honor which i cover. West can play another diamond, but I now lead a heart to the board and I am hoping to have 4C, 1H, 3D, 1S.

 

If RHO has C-JTxx, I can't see the miracle that is going to let me make the hand against decent defenders that have anything remotely resembling a takeout double.

[alok c]

Cash all ♣s & ♦s ending in dummy.Lead ♠10 & let it run . If covered by East by J play Q.

[Cyberyeti]

Cash all ♣s & ♦s ending in dummy.Lead ♠10 & let it run . If covered by East by J play Q.

 

This is probably good enough if you assume he doesn't double without K♠.

 

More complicated if he has a stiff J or 10 of clubs and you can't get back to dummy with the fourth club.

[Kaitlyn S]

This is probably good enough if you assume he doesn't double without K♠. with the fourth club.

I didn't think it was against defenders that would make sure East's fourth diamond was larger than West's.

 

T1-7 clubs & diamonds ending in dummy. East keeps his highest, West dumps the queen and any high spots.

T8 lead S10 losing to SJ.

T9 West leads diamond to East.

T10 East leads a spade, setting up 3 spade tricks total for West to go with the HA and a diamond.

[Cyberyeti]

I didn't think it was against defenders that would make sure East's fourth diamond was larger than West's.

 

T1-7 clubs & diamonds ending in dummy. East keeps his highest, West dumps the queen and any high spots.

T8 lead S10 losing to SJ.

T9 West leads diamond to East.

T10 East leads a spade, setting up 3 spade tricks total for West to go with the HA and a diamond.

 

Err, no, what does W discard on the clubs ? If he comes down to A♥ bare, you've ducked one to it instead of playing 10♠, so he has say ♠KJx, ♥AQ and a diamond

 

When E leads a spade, you take the A, exit your third one and W is endplayed with ♥AQ

[miamijd]

Err, no, what does W discard on the clubs ? If he comes down to A♥ bare, you've ducked one to it instead of playing 10♠, so he has say ♠KJx, ♥AQ and a diamond

 

When E leads a spade, you take the A, exit your third one and W is endplayed with ♥AQ

 

That works if clubs are 32. It doesn't work in clubs are 41, because you can't end in the dummy at trick 8.

[Cyberyeti]

That works if clubs are 32. It doesn't work in clubs are 41, because you can't end in the dummy at trick 8.

 

This is more or less what I said in my previous post, you have to guess who has ♠J in that case. Exit with the Q♠ and guess well when they play a diamond across and another spade whether to run it or play A and another.