Optimism

[lamford]

[hv=pc=n&s=sakq54h973dat9c74&n=s98hakqdq84caq532&d=s&v=0&b=11&a=1sp2cp2sp3hp3np6nppp]266|200[/hv]

My partner showed unjustified belief in my declarer play and we reached a poor slam here. I was pleased to be playing face-to-face again so did not complain. West led a neutral heart, sorry.

 

How can I best combine my chances?

[Cyberyeti]

What lead ?

[Winstonm]

[hv=pc=n&s=sakq54h973dat9c74&n=s98hakqdq84caq532&d=s&v=0&b=11&a=1sp2cp2sp3hp3np6nppp]266|200[/hv]

How can I best combine my chances?

 

1. Hope they never lead

2. Find a new partner

 

 

[DavidKok]

If they lead for example a neutral heart I don't see much better than crossing in spades, club to the queen, duck a club. That way if clubs break 3-3 with Kxx onside and spades break 3-3 you made your contract, and there's always the Chinese finesse in diamonds. If the spades are 4-2 or worse you never get to 12 legitimate tricks (unless you can scoop a singleton honour in diamonds). Are you trying to induce a defensive error?

[Winstonm]

Following David's example, with a neutral heart lead it appears to me the best chance is for 3-3 spades with the club finesse onside. That still only comes to 11 tricks so diamonds or clubs will need to produce the extra trick. Ducking a club seems poor as then east can play diamonds putting you to an early commitment. I think I would win the heart and lead the diamond Q. If that loses to the King, I will win the the return, cash heart winners then all the spades (assuming 3-3). This would squeeze west if he has Kxxx of clubs along with KJx of diamonds. It will squeeze east if that hand has left the Jx of diamonds and any 4 or 5 clubs minus the king.

 

Plus, I always can fall back on taking a second diamond finesse if the squeeze positions appear to be failing.

[nullve]

[hv=pc=n&s=sakq54h973dat9c74&n=s98hakqdq84caq532&d=s&v=0&b=11&a=1sp2cp2sp3hp3np6nppp]266|200[/hv]

My partner showed unjustified belief in my declarer play and we reached a poor slam here. I was pleased to be playing face-to-face again so did not complain. How can I best combine my chances?

Partial line:

 

On a heart lead:

1. ♥Q

2. ♣2

Assuming opps win the trick cheaply (although RHO will sometimes rise with the K even when it's wrong DD) and continue hearts:

3. ♥K

4. ♠A

5. ♣Q

Assuming the Q wins the trick:

6. ♣A, pitching a diamond in hand

If clubs are 3-3, then

7. ♦A (Vienna coup)

8. ♥A

9.,10. ♣53, pitching a low spade and the remaining diamond in hand

If clubs are not 3-3, then, assuming spades are 3-3 (which they now have to be):

7.-10. ♠KQ54, pitching a club and two diamonds in dummy

11. ♥A

 

Edit: Some of the pitching was absurd. Hopefully corrected now.

Edited August 12, 2021 by nullve

[lamford]

I crossed to the top spade and hooked the club successfully. Now if clubs broke but spade did not, I might still make as I can squeeze East if he has the king of diamonds and the fourth spade. Also if I duck a club now and they don't break but spades do, I might squeeze East with the fourth club and KJx of diamonds. The winning line was to not duck a club, but to cash the spades and then guess the diamonds. Or to run the queen of diamonds after the club finesse works. Seemed all very close to me.

[lamford]

I crossed to the top spade and hooked the club successfully. Now if clubs broke but spade did not, I might still make as I can squeeze East if he has the king of diamonds and the fourth spade. Also if I duck a club now and they don't break but spades do, I might squeeze East with the fourth club and KJx of diamonds. The winning line was to not duck a club, but to cash the spades and then guess the diamonds. Or to run the queen of diamonds after the club finesse works. Seemed all very close to me.