Spring 2

[nige1]

[hv=pc=n&k=S&b=2&d=w&s=sat5h654da432c654&w=sq876hkt9dkqt9ck7&n=sj9432haqj32dca32&a=1c(Might be 2)2c(Michaels: Ms)3c(N/F)4sppp&p=CKC2CQC4C7CAC8C5S2SKSAS6]399|300|

 

Another declarer-play problem

(based on a hand from the Spring 4s).

LHO's 1♣ opener could be short.

RHO's 3♣ bid is natural and non-forcing.

Against 4♠, LHO leads ♣ K, 2, Q, 4

LHO continues ♣7, A, 8, 5.

Dummy leads ♠2, K, A, 6.

Hit Next for the first 3 tricks.

Plan the play .[/hv]

[Cyberyeti]

If LHO is playing true cards, you can play this almost double dummy.

 

I'd need to check exactly what LHO's 1♣ can be, but if it's a doubleton (as it appears from the lead) only in a 4432 in a strong NT context and if he had ♦KQJ he might have led one, so W will have something like Qxxx, Kxxx, KJx, Kx.

 

So I hook the heart at trick 4 and then duck a heart at trick 5 confident E can't win this and W doesn't have a club left. I can't cash the A♦ first or I get tapped out in diamonds. W has to give me access to dummy either in spades, diamonds or by ruffing the 4th heart to cash the ace later to discard my club..

[nige1]

[hv=pc=n&b=2&d=w&s=sat5h654da432c654&w=sq876hkt9dkqt9ck7&n=sj9432haqj32dca32&a=1c(Might be 2)2c(Michaels: Ms)3c(N/F)4sppp&p=CKC2CQC4C7CAC8C5S2SKSAS6]399|300| (based on a deal from the Spring 4s).

LHO's 1♣ opener could be short.

RHO's 3♣ bid is natural and non-forcing.

Against 4♠, LHO leads ♣ K, 2, Q, 4

LHO continues ♣7, A, 8, 5.

Dummy leads ♠2, K, A, 6.

Hit Next for the first 3 tricks.

Plan the play

 

I assume 1♦ by LHO would have shown a more shapely hand.

In our match, both declarers were defeated by ♦ forces as predicted by Cyberyeti. but there are several winning lines.

e.g. after ♠A, finesse ♥J, ♠J (LHO ducks) ♠T, LHO wins and exits in ♠s to dummy's ♠9. Then ♥A, ♥.

[/hv]