[luis]

Qxx
8x
87xxx
AKx

Kx
AK94
J5
QJTxx

The bidding was 1N-3N, west leads the h3 (4th best) you play low from dummy and east plays the hJ.
You have 8 tricks (5c, 1s, 2h) and little chances for a ninth, the big question is: what is the best plan?
a) Run 5 clubs to see what they discard
Play diammonds to see what happens
c) Other play (spade...) etc....

[inquiry]

not a good chance... Missing AKQT9 of diamond, you have 3D (minimum) plus 1S loser off the top. The best play might be feed them 5 clubs, but that causes you to miss what may be the only real chance they can make.

So, OPTION 1, is catch West with 1-5-3-4 or similar with a stiff spade ACE while I still have an entry to dummy (before running clubs). Why play West for short? 1) looks like 5 card heart suit. And if EAST seven spades, they have to be very bad since he didn't preempt (thus no ACE). Odds of singleton spade ACE is not real good.

Lacking that, you hope to catch West with, ideally, something like
S-Ax
H-QTxxx
D-AK
C-xxxx

Then low spade towards the dummy still allows you to make. Win the spade QUEEN then run four clubs/five clubs, and then you endplay poor WEST who has to give you a third heart trick.

All in all, not a great chance, but there you go...

Ben

[flytoox]

Quote

Lacking that, you hope to catch West with, ideally, something like
S-Ax
H-QTxxx
D-AK
C-xxxx

Then low spade towards the dummy still allows you to make. Win the spade QUEEN then run four clubs/five clubs, and then you endplay poor WEST who has to give you a third heart trick.

All in all, not a great chance, but there you go...

Ben

So I would win the King of hearts, and play low spade to the QUEEN. Now assume that wins, and no spade ACE, I will now play WEST for 2-5-3-3

I like this plan, but after winning spade queen, i would lead a small diamond from dummy, if west holds diamond AQ, and east did not put on the King, you will endplay west too.

[Free]

Maybe it's not the best chance, but I'd probably play low C to the ace and small D to the J. Normally, they won't play D again. Your 9th trick comes from opponents playing S or a 4th H.

(I'll probably go -1 here but this contract has as far as I know no chance)

[the hog]

It would appear that I have 3 opponents on this hand, including the one who raised me to 3N. I assume this was a 14-16 opening. With that poor 9 partner should not even have invited. Opposite 15-17 this is worth an invite only.

Anyway...
Ben's line looks the best chance, to play W to hold specifically a 2524 with SA and DAK - AQ might do if opps slip slightly.
I think the best line is to get a new partner.

[Codo]

Hi all,

there is no chance to win a third heart trick, besides sleeping opponents. Else, show me how..
There is no chance for a slow diamond trick, because they have some more tricks to cash.
There are exactly 5 club tricks.
So lets look for spade. There are some possibilities:
1. A stiff ace somewhere
2. A doubleton ace at your right.
3. Find West with nearly exact the hand posted from Ben.
4. Play for some major errors in the defence.

Chances are about nil.

Just to name another line: Win the ace of H and play the Spade King.
Maybe good old lho ducks his ace because he is afraid, that you will set up an entry to dummies hand, or because he needs some more signals from pd.

Kind Regards

Roland