November hand 2

[nullve]

Board 4 from last weekend's Weekend event - Survivor (2 of 2):

 

[hv=pc=n&sn=You&s=skj2ha43da875caq4&nn=GiB&n=sq3hkt952dq9ct876&d=w&v=b&b=4&a=1cppdp1hp1np2np3nppp]266|200[/hv]

 

First four tricks:

 

1. (♠4)-♠3-(♠7)-♠J

2. ♥A-(♥8)-♥2-(♥6)

3. ♥3-(♥J)-♥5-(♦2)

4. (♥7)-♥9-(♣2)-♥4

 

What is your line and why? (It's matchpoints and East-West are GiBs)

 

Hint:

 

Guess the approximate EW cards and solve the resulting "chess puzzle".

 

( I could have posted this (and November hand) in the Expert-Class Bridge Forum or Interesting Bridge Hands Forum, but...)

[Tramticket]

My best guess:

 

 

West seems to have either a 4414 or 4423 (if playing five-card majors / strong no trump) shape. (I am discounting the possibility that East holds all seven missing diamonds - he would have bid surely?). There is just about room for East to hold the ♦K. But if that is the case, why didn't West play a diamond through dummy's QX rather than the heart exit?

 

If West has the king of diamonds, then we can generate a diamond trick by leading towards the queen of diamonds. We can now "see" two spades, four hearts, two diamonds and one club. However the entries appear to be a bit tricky (if we cross back to the ace of clubs to the lead the diamond, we won't have an entry to enjoy the ♦A.

 

I am cashing one more heart, to remove west's exit card, then I am playing the queen of spades. West must give us the entry with the K♠ or play away from a minor-suit king.

 

[johnu]

My best guess:

 

 

West seems to have either a 4414 or 4423 (if playing five-card majors / strong no trump) shape. (I am discounting the possibility that East holds all seven missing diamonds - he would have bid surely?). There is just about room for East to hold the ♦K. But if that is the case, why didn't West play a diamond through dummy's QX rather than the heart exit?

 

If West has the king of diamonds, then we can generate a diamond trick by leading towards the queen of diamonds. We can now "see" two spades, four hearts, two diamonds and one club. However the entries appear to be a bit tricky (if we cross back to the ace of clubs to the lead the diamond, we won't have an entry to enjoy the ♦A.

 

I am cashing one more heart, to remove west's exit card, then I am playing the queen of spades. West must give us the entry with the K♠ or play away from a minor-suit king.

 

 

There are no other replies, so in reply to the spoiler

 

 

 

West probably wouldn't switch to a diamond if East had the king because GIB doesn't play double dummy and wouldn't know East has the king.

 

If declarer cashes 1 more heart and play ♠Q, suppose West wins and plays a 3rd spade, clearing spades. Presumably declarer plays a diamond to the queen. West goes up king and if spades are 4-4, plays a spade to partner and a club comes back through your AQ. Diamonds are blocked so you have to finesse. If that loses, you have to lose 2 spades, a heart, a diamond, and a club.

 

Declarer has to cash both remaining hearts, then west has to come down to 7 cards after 5 hearts and a spade are played. Probably 2 spades, 2 diamonds, and 3 clubs. If only 1 spade (♠A), a spade will endplay West. If only 1 diamond, you can drop a singleton ♦K. If only 2 clubs, you can play ♣A and small club to set up ♣Q.

 

(declarer comes down to ♠K2 ♦A8 ♣AQ4)

 

Then you play a spade. West can win and play another spade, but declarer can play ♦A and a diamond for a club return into AQ. If west ducks, you can cross to ♣A and endplay west with a spade.

 

You do have to read the cards based on the bidding and the opening lead.