[42]

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You play 4♥, lead is ♦K.

As Ben suggested (thx ):
How do you play
a.) in a team match (IMP; overtricks do not count much, you must bring in your game safely),
b.) in a pairs event (matchpoints; the highest score counts -> overtricks are important)?

This post has been edited by 42: 2005-September-25, 12:15

[inquiry]

You need to state rather Matchpoints of imps, because the line is different. At imps, you play as safe as possible for 10 tricks, at matchpoints, you have to play for 11 tricks.

[ochinko]

I take the lead with ♦A, cash the ♥K, and lead the ♥10 to dummy's Ace retaining the ♥x as a next entry to dummy's 9.

Now I have two possible routes:

(1) Take a spade finesse.

(2) Draw ♣AK to discard a diamond from hand, then take the first spade finesse.

If both opponents folowed to the two rounds of trumps there is only one outstanding heart, so now (2) seems best because even if our second club gets ruffed opps can't play another trump, and we make whenever we catch one of the spade honors onside, or find spades in opps 3:3.

I admit that even if trumps are 4:1 in the opps, I'll still try (2), because finding the clubs 6:1 (assuming they weren't bid) is less probable than having ♠KQ at my back. Here I am probably wrong, and that is what Ben means as a better line only at matchpoints.

Petko

[Double !]

At imps I count my tricks first. 9 off the top.

I would not pull any trumps. Start by playing AK♣ (pitching a diamond from hand), cash A♦, then play ace and another spade. I have all of the high spots in trumps, so if there's a bad spade break I will have a high trump in dummy to ruff my 4th spade with. And i won't have risked having an outside ace or king trumped in the end. 1S, 2C, 1D, and 6Hs (if spade needs to be trumped) = 10 tricks.

At matchpoints I would likely play to take 2 spade finesses.