Play problem - 4H

[pclayton]

[hv=d=w&v=b&n=shaqt62daq8732cj4&s=skt983h9854d54ca2]133|200|Scoring: MP[/hv]

 

Matchpoints.

 

West opens 1♣, other than that the opps are silent.

 

You have a nice auction to get to 4♥ from the short side. West leads the ♣K, won by your ace. You finesse the diamond (agree?), losing, they cash a club, and lock you back in dummy with a diamond. You can't tell who has the 3rd diamond.

 

The position is now (with 2 tricks lost) :

 

[hv=d=w&v=b&n=shaqt62daq8732cj4&s=skt983h9854d54ca2]133|200|Scoring: MP[/hv]

 

What now?

[hotShot]

I don't agree with the ♦ finesse!

Play ace ♣ first creating a double chicane in ♣ and play the ♥ finesse.

If it looses and opps play ♦ you get both ♦ tricks. if opps play ♣ drop a ♦ and ruffat the table. If opps play ♠ no harm done.

If the ♥ finesse worked, pull the ace hoping for a 2-2 hold. If you don't get the king exit in ♥ creating the situation above.

[flytoox]

West is marked with HK. East does have club spt but didnt raise. Let's try to reconstruct their hand. Spades should be 4-4. Club should be 5-4.

 

If west is 3-1 in red suits, then he has singlton HK. In this case either play will do the job.

 

If west has doublton in both red suits, either cashing HA or playing diamond will do the job.

 

The danger is west has 3 diamonds and Kx hearts, then east will ruff with HJ and returning spade, lock you in dummy.

 

I think cashing HA is the winning play.

[Fluffy]

can't think on anything better than cash ♥A, after it tehre will be a guess to make, but probably will try for 2-2, since east having only 3 red cards is unlikelly.