Tricksy 5C

[ahydra]

Cross-IMPs, you're vul, they're not

 

[hv=pc=n&s=sa542hdqj7cat6432&n=skt3hq764dak2cq97&d=s&v=n&b=15&a=1c(2%2B)2h(NAT%20PRE)3np5cppp]266|200[/hv]

 

Lead: HJ, 4, 3 (encouraging), ruff. What next?

 

ahydra

[smerriman]

(Other than just playing for trumps 2-2, which probably isn't right:) Can't think of anything great to do, so I'll try ♦K, ruff a heart, ♠K, ruff a heart, ♦AQ, ♠A, and another spade.

 

If all of that holds up and East has to win, things look promising.

 

Edit - changed my mind. Maybe duck a spade immediately, then cross to dummy and lead the queen of trumps. Then try to ruff the 4th spade.

[ggwhiz]

♠A and a spade up. if it lives, K and another spade. I'll have an odds on clue how to play trumps after I find out how many spades west has

[wank]

I'd lead a low spade towards dummy and build my ruff. After Lho leads from kjt of hearts a void is more likely than a singleton.

[gszes]

If I was going to try a dummy reversal I would try this:

trick 1 ruff heart

trick 2 plunk down club A (see if any 40 split makes me change my mind)

trick 3 low spade to dummy (it does not help the defense for lho to ruff this)

trick 4 ruff heart

trick 5 dia to dummy

trick 6 ruff heart

trick 7 dia to dummy

trick 8 ruff heart

trick 9 club toward the Q

makes when lho has 2 or 3 clubs or a singleton honor (minus a dia ruff)

 

BUT I am unconvinced my rho at favorable (and precious little defense) failed to try 4h AND lho made the risky looking lead of the heart J from probably KJT which dramatically decreases the chances they have any short suit. All of this, plus vacant spaces,points to rho having club length so I will try the following instead.

 

trick 1 ruff heart

trick 2 dia to dummy

trick 3 club Q intending to double hook rho hopefully losing at most 1c and 1s and merely watch the bridge gods rofl when lho comes up with KJ tight in clubs. or 4 spades and stiff club K

[HardVector]

West is likely the one short in clubs, but to cater to the possibility of short spades I'd play spade ace, low spade. Assuming the K lives, then another spade. Either they split 3-3, or you can ruff the last one getting an honor or being able to ruff low. Then I'd play the clubs starting with the Q planning on finessing east for an honor, using the diamonds as an entry for the 2nd finesse.