Play 6 Spade

[MrAce]

IMP

 

2♥=weak 2

Rest cues

[hv=pc=n&s=sak983ha52d8632c8&n=sqj76hk6dat4cak76&d=e&v=0&b=14&a=2h2sp3hp4sp5cp5hp6sppp]266|200[/hv]

 

Lead ♦K

[nige1]

[hv=pc=n&w=SH43DKQJ75CQT9543&s=sak983ha52d8632c8&n=sqj76hk6dat4cak76&d=e&v=0&b=14&a=2h(Weak)2sp3h(Cue)p4sp5c(Cue)p5h(Cue)p6sppp&p=DK]320|240|

MrAce writes "IMP. Lead ♦K"

 

 

Good problem, Mr Ace.

Win ♦A. Cash ♠QK, ♥KA. Ruff a ♥ with ♠J. Finesse ♠9 if necessary. Run trumps, hoping for a squeeze without the count.

 

[/hv]

[Kaitlyn S]

[hv=pc=n&w=SH43DKQJ75CQT9543&s=sak983ha52d8632c8&n=sqj76hk6dat4cak76&d=e&v=0&b=14&a=2h(Weak)2sp3h(Cue)p4sp5c(Cue)p5h(Cue)p6sppp&p=DK]320|240|[/hv]

MrAce writes "IMP. Lead ♦K"

 

Good problem, Mr Ace.

 

 

 

Win ♦A. Cash ♠QK, ♥KA. Ruff a ♥ with ♠J. Finesse ♠9 if necessary. Run trumps, hoping for a squeeze without the count.

 

 

 

 

I'm going to play East for 2-6-1-4. (If West shows up with no trump, I can play for Nige's line but I doubt I would have found it.) Win ♦A, play two trump, top two clubs discarding a diamond, ruff the third club, heart to the ♥K, ruff a club, ♥A, lead a heart discard a diamond, and hope East has to give us a ruff-sluff.

 

 

If either of our solutions is right, IMO this is a tough problem for I/A, especially for the I portion, although it is less difficult than the problems I've seen in the expert forum. I would never get this in a table without collecting late-play warnings and a mean glare from partner for holding up the game.

 

To potential BBO partners: Don't expect I'm going to find these plays at the table. :)

[MrAce]

Both Kaitlyn and Nige1 are on right track but not complete.

 

In the original hand spades were 2-2.

It is about counting the opponent hands so I do not think it is hard problem for I/A section.

First cash a ♠ and if all follows cash 2nd ♠, if all follows

Cash ♣AK and ruff a club. Assume E followed all 3 of them.

Go to dummy with ♥K and play 4th club, now;

 

A-E followed 4th club, then ruff and play 2 more rounds of ♥ discarding ♦ from dummy, endplaying E, as Kaitlyn said.

 

B-E did not follow 4th club, then E is 2623, ruff the 4th club, cash AK of ♥ and ruff 3rd ♥, exit with ♦ and hope East originally had Jx ♦

 

 

So the correct line is to win the ♦A and

 

-Cash 1 round of ♠, if all follow

-Cash 2nd ♠. and if all follow

-Cash AK of ♣ and ruff 3rd.

-Go to dummy with ♥K and play 4th ♣. Play accordingly depending in whether E followed the 4th ♣ or not. Like Kaitlyn said if he follows 4th♣ and if not follows cash A of ♥ and ruff 3rd ♥ exit with ♦ hope for E holding Jx ♦.

 

-IF W did not follow 1st or 2nd ♠, play like Nigel said

-IF E did not follow 2nd ♠, we need miracle E holding something exactly like x QJT98x 9xx 543 to perform same squeeze against West.