[Trumpace]

We all discuss suit combinations wrt to taking requisite number of tricks.

I haven't seen any discussion(s) regarding how to play suit combinations to create/deny entries.

If we need to see the whole hand to appreciate the play, please don't refrain from adding it.

If we can also discuss those from the point of view of defense, that would be great.

Here is one:

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It is known that RHO has the ♠A. You need to create an entry to dummy (North) in spades.

How will you play this combination? Can defense do anything to deny you the entry?

[Echognome]

I can only see two legitimate chances for an entry.

First is that RHO has Ax (or obv A stiff) of spades. In that case, laying down the K then the J will create an entry.

The second is to finesse LHO for the ♠T. If you lead small to the 9 and the finesse works, then you have a guaranteed entry.

I do not see any play where you can force an entry to dummy if RHO has ATx(x) as he can simply cover dummy's card each time.

Note we were given that RHO has the ♠A, so we will revert to trying for LHO to have the ♠T. Furthermore, this is a better chance than playing RHO for Ax, since if we really need the entry, we only lose out to AT exactly.

[ClaceyJ]

If we play small towards the nine, and LHO puts up the ten, surely then we have no chance? We then have no small card in hand we can later play to the nine.

[Echognome]

ClaceyJ, on Jul 11 2007, 03:25 PM, said:

If we play small towards the nine, and LHO puts up the ten, surely then we have no chance? We then have no small card in hand we can later play to the nine.

Good point. So maybe we are back to resorting to Ax.

[Trumpace]

Echognome, on Jul 11 2007, 06:42 PM, said:

ClaceyJ, on Jul 11 2007, 03:25 PM, said:

If we play small towards the nine, and LHO puts up the ten, surely then we have no chance? We then have no small card in hand we can later play to the nine.

Good point. So maybe we are back to resorting to Ax.

We can go the way you suggested for Ax, but I think we should still play K, and then low to 9 (instead of J from hand as you suggest).

This caters to Ax and also to a sleeping LHO.

This is more interesting from defense point of view, LHO needs to put up the T to deny the entry by blocking the suit.

[Gerben42]

Quote

If we play small towards the nine, and LHO puts up the ten, surely then we have no chance? We then have no small card in hand we can later play to the nine.

Of course he always knows of our plan? In this situation many LHOs will not divine the position if you play it early.

[barmar]

Hands where LHO finds the play of the 10 are the stuff of bridge columns about best-defended hands. If your opps are that good, you're probably out of luck.

[Trumpace]

Here is a full hand:

Scoring: Rubber

West Leads ♥ 7

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You are South in 4NT. West leads the ♥7.

[Echognome]

Trumpace, on Jul 12 2007, 01:47 PM, said:

Here is a full hand:

Scoring: Rubber

West Leads ♥ 7

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You are South in 4NT. West leads the ♥7.

Why do I need to create an entry to dummy? Seems clear to knock out the ♠K and then guess clubs. That would give me 5 spades, 2 hearts, and 3 clubs.

If you put me in 5NT, then we may have to hope that west has the ♣Q and doesn't insert it on the first round, in particular if East has Kxx of spades.

[Fluffy]

On the first example it depends on opponents level.

With many opponents, playing ♠K just creates the entry easilly.

With a better ones if ♠K doesn't scced, a low to the 9 nex will still work

Next are those who will be aware of the problem on second trick, but not on first. Against them best is low to the 9

Finally the double dummy opponents, agaisnt these the best is ♠K, and Next ♠J, overtaking if LHO hapens to have ♠10x. (or RHO had ♠A10 also).



for the 4NT hand, I disagre with Matt, if you tackle clubs first, and you fail, you can still succeed when RHO has ♠Kx or bare, this is much better than ♠K bare offside.

Also true is that your line saves undertricks.

[Echognome]

Fluffy, on Jul 12 2007, 03:21 PM, said:

for the 4NT hand, I disagre with Matt, if you tackle clubs first, and you fail, you can still succeed when RHO has ♠Kx or bare, this is much better than ♠K bare offside.

Also true is that your line saves undertricks.

I'd rather leave the club guess to the end as it's a 2-way finesse.

[Foxx]

Trumpace, on Jul 12 2007, 07:47 PM, said:

You are South in 4NT. West leads the ♥7.

Looks like a hand out of Bridge Master.

I'll win the ♥A and run the ♣J; if it wins we can go to spades for 5 tricks, if it loses we have two entries to dummy to finesse spades. I only go down if East has the ♣Q and West has the ♠K, or East has ♠Kxxx.

[Trumpace]

Foxx, on Jul 12 2007, 07:14 PM, said:

Looks like a hand out of Bridge Master.

Yes, I think there is a similar hand in bridge master. Hopefully this won't be a copyright violation or anything.

[Trumpace]

Here is a classic hand:

Scoring: Rubber

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You are in 3NT. West leads a spade.

Plan the play.

[Echognome]

Trumpace, on Jul 14 2007, 11:19 AM, said:

Here is a classic hand:

Scoring: Rubber

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You are in 3NT. West leads a spade.

Plan the play.

This one is clearer. You play the A from hand no matter what East plays. Then you knock out the ♥A. You can make it a little tougher to see by making it QJx of spades.

Although 6♥ is on the spade hook...

[Trumpace]

Echognome, on Jul 14 2007, 04:08 PM, said:

You can make it a little tougher to see by making it QJx of spades.

Changed the Ten to the 2 in the original post.

[Trumpace]

Here is another which I had posted a while back. From that post:

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I saw this in the book "Beaten by the masters" by Dvid Brd. Since I don't have the book handy, the hands might be different.

You are South, playing in 5C, after West has preempted in hearts.

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West leads the AK of hearts, you ruff second trick with the ♣8. You play ♣AK of clubs and to your surprise East discards on the ♣K.

Now what? (Scoring Rubber. Vul none.)

[skjaeran]

Trumpace, on Jul 16 2007, 10:39 PM, said:

Here is another which I had posted a while back. From that post:

---------
I saw this in the book "Beaten by the masters" by Dvid Brd. Since I don't have the book handy, the hands might be different.

You are South, playing in 5C, after West has preempted in hearts.

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West leads the AK of hearts, you ruff second trick with the ♣8. You play ♣AK of clubs and to your surprise East discards on the ♣K.

Now what? (Scoring Rubber. Vul none.)

This is a classic!
Draw trumps discarding the ♠A (or K) from dummy. Cash dummys ♦'s and the remaining ♠ winner and lead the ♠T towards hand. The ♠J will be your entry to the ♦J.

[Echognome]

skaeran, on Jul 16 2007, 01:26 PM, said:

This is a classic!
Draw trumps discarding the ♠A (or K) from dummy. Cash dummys ♦'s and the remaining ♠ winner and lead the ♠T towards hand. The ♠J will be your entry to the ♦J.

I don't think this works. In order to draw all of the trumps (they are 4-1 and you've ruffed once), you are going to be out of trumps. Thus if you try to use the ♠J as an entry, the opponents can take their ♠Q and cash a heart, setting you one trick.