A simple hand

[Mkgnao]

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Lead: ♠K.

 

You ruff and East produces ♠3. You're playing IMPs against the weaker of the GIB twins.

 

Plan the play.

[smerriman]

West will have plenty of distribution points so doesn't necessarily need all the HCP to make up the 16 total. I think I'll go with leading a small trump and covering what East plays - that picks up a 0-4 split, and in other cases surely we have some sort of minor suit squeeze if needed.

[Phil]

I'll start with the assumption that spades are 7-5. The only way we have problems here is if the diamond is off and clubs aren't splitting.

 

Start with ♥A. If RHO shows out, hook heart (covered) then club to my hand (holding my breath).

 

If both follow, then run the ♥T. If RHO wins the Q:

 

1. A club lets me try the suit. If 3-2, great. If RHO has 4, then LHO seems to be 7=2=3=1 and needs the !dQ for the opening.

2. A spade gives me a ruff/sluff (pitching a diamond from hand) and I can try clubs. If LHO has 4 clubs, then the ruffing finesse is a lock. If RHO has the four clubs then LHO is 7=2=3=1 and I'm odds on to bring home diamonds.

 

If LHO shows out on the 2nd heart, I rise and can try clubs from the top (doesn't do RHO any good to ruff in) and fall back on diamond hook.

 

When I first saw this hand, my initial impression was ♥K and start on clubs if both follow. But I think this line is better.

[Mkgnao]

West will have plenty of distribution points so doesn't necessarily need all the HCP to make up the 16 total. I think I'll go with leading a small trump and covering what East plays - that picks up a 0-4 split, and in other cases surely we have some sort of minor suit squeeze if needed.

 

Assume you've got a trump loser. So if you start leading a low trump then West will win with ♥9. Your squeeze will work if the same hand holds 4 or 5 ♣ and ♦Qxx(+x) or Q/Qx. The problem with your line is that you'll go down unnecessarily with the ♦-finesse on and 4 or 5 ♣ in the other hand. And there's the tiny chance of a ♦/♣-ruff after West wins the first trick.

 

With trumps 2-2 and ♣4-1/1-4, you won't need the squeeze. You can draw their last trump and ruff the ♣ high for 3♦-discards while retaining your last trump as an entry to the high ♣ in dummy.

 

I'll start with the assumption that spades are 7-5. The only way we have problems here is if the diamond is off and clubs aren't splitting.

 

Start with ♥A. If RHO shows out, hook heart (covered) then club to my hand (holding my breath).

 

If both follow, then run the ♥T. If RHO wins the Q:

 

1. A club lets me try the suit. If 3-2, great. If RHO has 4, then LHO seems to be 7=2=3=1 and needs the !dQ for the opening.

2. A spade gives me a ruff/sluff (pitching a diamond from hand) and I can try clubs. If LHO has 4 clubs, then the ruffing finesse is a lock. If RHO has the four clubs then LHO is 7=2=3=1 and I'm odds on to bring home diamonds.

 

If LHO shows out on the 2nd heart, I rise and can try clubs from the top (doesn't do RHO any good to ruff in) and fall back on diamond hook.

 

When I first saw this hand, my initial impression was ♥K and start on clubs if both follow. But I think this line is better.

 

For the reasons mentioned above, if trumps are breaking you've got a lock unless ♣ are 5-0/0-5. You might want to address how you'll play if trumps break and ♣ are 5-0/0-5. Another relevant scenario for your line: what if West discards on ♥A?

[Phil]

Assume you've got a trump loser. So if you start leading a low trump then West will win with ♥9. Your squeeze will work if the same hand holds 4 or 5 ♣ and ♦Qxx(+x) or Q/Qx. The problem with your line is that you'll go down unnecessarily with the ♦-finesse on and 4 or 5 ♣ in the other hand. And there's the tiny chance of a ♦/♣-ruff after West wins the first trick.

 

With trumps 2-2 and ♣4-1/1-4, you won't need the squeeze. You can draw their last trump and ruff the ♣ high for 3♦-discards while retaining your last trump as an entry to the high ♣ in dummy.

 

 

 

For the reasons mentioned above, if trumps are breaking you've got a lock unless ♣ are 5-0/0-5. You might want to address how you'll play if trumps break and ♣ are 5-0/0-5. Another relevant scenario for your line: what if West discards on ♥A?

 

I'll take the 2nd question first. If LHO shows out on the heart then I'll drive out the trump without risking a diamond ruff.

 

If hearts are breaking, I'm not concerned with 5-0/0-5 clubs - I can just give up a diamond.

 

If you meant hearts breaking 3-1, well I've messed up my entries since I have already played them, and I need clubs 3-2 /♦hook, so I do not see what you are driving at.

[gszes]

A plan that caters to lho having 4 trumps just seems wrong --- surely rho looking at 5 spades and a heart void (even if totally broke) will do something over 2s. Another consideration is that IF rho is void in hearts there is a 100% chance they are squeezed in the minors (and we can all but assure we will pick up the hearts for 1 loser) IF we start with

 

trick 2 heart K (this will immediately reveal any 40 trump split and determine how we play the hand).

trick 3 small heart covering whatever lho plays. This may seem senseless but something very interesting happens if lho wins the 2nd heart. 1 it is no longer possible for lho to hold 5 clubs (assumed 7spades and 2h) AND if rho holds 5 clubs then the dia finesse will assuredly work on the 2nd round (rho would have 5s 5c 2h 1d) AND the 3rd heart will provide the extra entry needed to establish clubs if they do not break 50. SOOOO assuming hearts break 31 what to do. Cash the top heart and run the dia nine

as there is no reason not to try for 7*.

other considerations IF rho has 4 (or Qxx) hearts LHO surely has the dia Q for their 1s opening AKQJxxx void xxxx xx is a preempt but AKQxxxx void Qxxx xx is 1s according to the book of bot.

 

The above is based on the very realistic probability that spades break 75 given the bidding.

[Mkgnao]

If hearts are breaking, I'm not concerned with 5-0/0-5 clubs - I can just give up a diamond.

 

I might've misunderstood you, but I took "If both follow, then run the ♥T. If RHO wins the Q" to mean that you would play ♥A and run ♥T. Say East wins with ♥Q (trumps breaking), then you are home with ♣3-2 or 4-1. Therefore, my interpretation has to be wrong since there would be no need for a potential ♦Q-finesse described in your scenarios anymore.

[johnu]

A plan that caters to lho having 4 trumps just seems wrong --- surely rho looking at 5 spades and a heart void (even if totally broke) will do something over 2s.

 

RHO is a GIB according to OP. Any consideration of reasonable action is suspect. B-)

[Phil]

By the way, had a long chat with my golf partner and Im convinced ♥K, clubs is nearly bulletproof.

[bravejason]

What is the explanation of the 4NT and 5NT bids? It looks like South started a Blackwood sequence, but North simply dismissed it and said ‘pick a slam’. Is that what happened?

[smerriman]

What is the explanation of the 4NT and 5NT bids? It looks like South started a Blackwood sequence, but North simply dismissed it and said ‘pick a slam’. Is that what happened?

You can click on the bids to see what they mean. 5NT = even key cards and a void.