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Here is an interesting hand from the second Homebase tournament. It was the last hand, so Echognome and I quickly headed to slam. LHO lead a small diamond against 6S, how would you play?
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#1
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Posted 2006-February-15, 00:01
Here is an interesting hand from the second Homebase tournament. It was the last hand, so Echognome and I quickly headed to slam. LHO lead a small diamond against 6S, how would you play?
Please note: I am interested in boring, bog standard, 2/1.
- hrothgar
- hrothgar
#2
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Posted 2006-February-15, 04:05
As we've bid it quickly, seems only fair to play it quickly!
Speedball line is:
Win ace of diamonds.
A, K of clubs and a third club.
- If LHO discards, ruff low, heart to the ace, fourth club and hope spades play for 1 loser
- if LHO ruffs in, dummy's second pip is relevant, but assuming dummy has the 32 of spades, over-ruff with the Jack and play a spade to the Queen followed by another club. Alternative is a spade to the ace: this wins any time spades are 3-2 and LHO has the K. Spade to the Q wins anytime spades are 3-2 and RHO has the K. But spade to the Q also picks up some 4-1 spade breaks with K10xx on our right.
- if LHO follows low, ruff low. If RHO over-ruffs (else we just need spades to play for 1 loser) I think we're screwed. But ruffing high won't help us if LHO has 4 clubs either.
Speedball line is:
Win ace of diamonds.
A, K of clubs and a third club.
- If LHO discards, ruff low, heart to the ace, fourth club and hope spades play for 1 loser
- if LHO ruffs in, dummy's second pip is relevant, but assuming dummy has the 32 of spades, over-ruff with the Jack and play a spade to the Queen followed by another club. Alternative is a spade to the ace: this wins any time spades are 3-2 and LHO has the K. Spade to the Q wins anytime spades are 3-2 and RHO has the K. But spade to the Q also picks up some 4-1 spade breaks with K10xx on our right.
- if LHO follows low, ruff low. If RHO over-ruffs (else we just need spades to play for 1 loser) I think we're screwed. But ruffing high won't help us if LHO has 4 clubs either.
#3
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Posted 2006-February-15, 04:13
For the record, the spade spots are 64 in dummy and 52 in hand.
The easiest way to count losers is to line up the people who talk about loser count, and count them. -Kieran Dyke
#4
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Posted 2006-February-15, 11:26
I played it slowly, but exactly like Frances described. LHO had 4 clubs, so I was screwed. I ruffed low, RHO overruffing and then they played the diamond king. Now I could see some hope if LHO had the stiff king of spades.. perhaps some trump coup.. but no.
The fancy homebase traveller told me that 6S could not be made after a diamond lead, but it still seems like an interesting hand. I wonder if the speedball line is also the best line.
The fancy homebase traveller told me that 6S could not be made after a diamond lead, but it still seems like an interesting hand. I wonder if the speedball line is also the best line.
Please note: I am interested in boring, bog standard, 2/1.
- hrothgar
- hrothgar
#5
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Posted 2006-February-15, 11:39
I can't immediately think of another line that is obviously better.
There's something to be said for a trick 1 diamond finesse, but that depends on the auction and the likelihood of an aggressive leader on our left.
The alternative is to win the ace of diamonds and play a spade to the Queen. If that holds, cash the Ace of spades next. If the King drops doubleton on our right, probably continue with 3 rounds of hearts ruffing in hand (gains with hearts 3-3, losing with LHO 32 in the majors but clubs playing for exactly 1 loser, don't know which is better).
If after two rounds of trumps the SK is still out, take whatever seems the best line in clubs (AK and a ruff or cross in hearts to take a club finesse - quite close betwen the two lines I think).
If the SQ loses to the King it depends what they play back; probably a trump so you win in hand and are back to bringing the clubs in with 1 ruff.
Is this line any better? Dunno, probably not much in it. Everything seems to be in trouble with four clubs on our left.
There's something to be said for a trick 1 diamond finesse, but that depends on the auction and the likelihood of an aggressive leader on our left.
The alternative is to win the ace of diamonds and play a spade to the Queen. If that holds, cash the Ace of spades next. If the King drops doubleton on our right, probably continue with 3 rounds of hearts ruffing in hand (gains with hearts 3-3, losing with LHO 32 in the majors but clubs playing for exactly 1 loser, don't know which is better).
If after two rounds of trumps the SK is still out, take whatever seems the best line in clubs (AK and a ruff or cross in hearts to take a club finesse - quite close betwen the two lines I think).
If the SQ loses to the King it depends what they play back; probably a trump so you win in hand and are back to bringing the clubs in with 1 ruff.
Is this line any better? Dunno, probably not much in it. Everything seems to be in trouble with four clubs on our left.
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