[Trumpace]

Scoring: Rubber

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You are South in a 6S contract, after East had overcalled hearts at some point.

West leads the heart 4 (and East plays A)

(East/West are playing standard leads.)


Plan the play.

Adv/+ please hide your answers.

[ralph23]

Spoiler

The 4 must be a singleton, as West either has 1 or 2 ♥ on the bidding, and if he had 2, he would not lead his lowest.

Drop the King of ♥ from your hand. You may convince East that his partner has led from ♥42, and he will perhaps be afraid to either lead, or underlead, his Queen of ♥, as the ♥Jack is in dummy.


You will still have to squeeze East and hope he holds both ♦QJ, which seems likely on the bidding. When you lead North's final trump from ♠6 ♥J ♦xx, East must discard from ♥Q ♦QJx and is squeezed.

Not realistic to think that East overcalled at the two level on AQJT, but I don't even see how he could have a chance to bid only 2♥, anyhow....

[pclayton]

Spoiler

This really isn't a good example of the falsecard of the K from Kx. We have only 11 tricks (6S, 3C, 2D) if we can convince East to shift. We have a possible squeeze if East has diamond length as well (dubious) or we can make 3 diamond tricks if E has the QJ.

I think I'd rather hope that East overcalled on a 4 card suit and West led from xxx.

[BebopKid]

Spoiler

No matter what East now leads, I take it, pull trumps, throw off 2 hearts on the clubs taking all three clubs, take 2 diamonds, 1 heart and trumps left in dummy.

Am I missing something?

Looks like 6S cold to me.

[cherdano]

Can we please stop using hidden text for discussion-worthy stuff? I think hidden text (as implemented in this forum) is a pain and should only be used when someone is posting a clearly correct solution to a B/I problem.

I agree with Phil FWIW but it depends on the auction.

[Trumpace]

Is the standard lead from xxx the lowest?

[ralph23]

Trumpace, on Aug 24 2007, 04:55 PM, said:

Is the standard lead from xxx the lowest?

Well, since there are 3 cards there are three schools of thought .

Top of nothing: Popular a long time ago. Not much so now. Some people however still play it, including one of my former bridge teachers! At least, partner will know you don't have an honor, but may be confused about whether you hold 2 or 3.

Bottom of three rags: What I play and what I think is the most popular. At least, partner will know you don't have a doubleton (often anyway), although he may be confused about whether you have an honor or not.

Middle of three rags: MUD, middle-up-down. The advantage/disadvantage is that no one knows what the hell is going on usually, including declarer. No nasty comments from MUD adherents, please; I know some people swear by it, although I think more swear at it.

[ralph23]

BebopKid, on Aug 24 2007, 04:22 PM, said:

No matter what East now leads, I take it .....

That may be difficult if West has led a singleton , which looks at least mildly suspicious to some and real real suspicious to moi.