Help
3NT by South.
The play starts with a low club lead from West to the 10 and Queen.
Diamond to the king.
From this point, would you rather declare or defend?
Page 1 of 1
Declarer or Defend? (no cheating!)
#1
- Limit bidder
-
- Group: Advanced Members
- Posts: 8,483
- Joined: 2004-November-02
- Gender:Female
- Location:England
- Interests:Bridge, classical music, skiing... but I spend more time earning a living than doing any of those
Posted 2007-August-31, 04:12
This fascinating hand came up during one of my (very rare) excursions on BBO.
3NT by South.
The play starts with a low club lead from West to the 10 and Queen.
Diamond to the king.
From this point, would you rather declare or defend?
3NT by South.
The play starts with a low club lead from West to the 10 and Queen.
Diamond to the king.
From this point, would you rather declare or defend?
#2
- Group: Advanced Members
- Posts: 9,151
- Joined: 2003-June-11
- Location:Southern California
Posted 2007-August-31, 10:51
I probably have this wrong but maybe this will help others to the right solution.
There are many many forks in the road here. Lets try the highway first:
Say East decides to win the ♦A and continue with a benign club. Declarer wins hooks the diamond and East does best by blocking the suit by covering. Win the diamond in hand and knock out the ♣K. I suppose West's best defense is low spade (but this leads to offramp 1 - see below) but declarer can win in hand cash the clubs play a diamond to the 8 and exit a spade to honor which West wins. The defense has a choice of putting declarer back in hand and taking 2 spades, 3 diamonds, 3 clubs. Declarer can exit the low spade and West must return a heart for #9. A heart return fares no better. Declarer can rise with the A, which also blocks the suit, exit a heart. East must put declarer in hand at this point.
Offramp 1. West returns a heart instead of a low spade. Declarer can rise with the Ace blocking the suit (pitching a spade), take the diamond 8, and play a spade, while the hearts are still blocked. West can win, cash their heart trick, but now East must win and put declarer in hand with a spade or a diamond.
Lets try another road out of town, which was my first impulse. It looks apparent for the defense to attack entries to the closed hand by winning the A♦, and shifting to a spade immediately. West wins, and plays back a spade. Declarer in hand at this point.
Lets try a ♣ to the A, ♦ to hand (again covered) J♣. West wins, and...?
I'll continue this later. (Sorry - went to edit this and the text went haywire)
There are many many forks in the road here. Lets try the highway first:
Say East decides to win the ♦A and continue with a benign club. Declarer wins hooks the diamond and East does best by blocking the suit by covering. Win the diamond in hand and knock out the ♣K. I suppose West's best defense is low spade (but this leads to offramp 1 - see below) but declarer can win in hand cash the clubs play a diamond to the 8 and exit a spade to honor which West wins. The defense has a choice of putting declarer back in hand and taking 2 spades, 3 diamonds, 3 clubs. Declarer can exit the low spade and West must return a heart for #9. A heart return fares no better. Declarer can rise with the A, which also blocks the suit, exit a heart. East must put declarer in hand at this point.
Offramp 1. West returns a heart instead of a low spade. Declarer can rise with the Ace blocking the suit (pitching a spade), take the diamond 8, and play a spade, while the hearts are still blocked. West can win, cash their heart trick, but now East must win and put declarer in hand with a spade or a diamond.
Lets try another road out of town, which was my first impulse. It looks apparent for the defense to attack entries to the closed hand by winning the A♦, and shifting to a spade immediately. West wins, and plays back a spade. Declarer in hand at this point.
Lets try a ♣ to the A, ♦ to hand (again covered) J♣. West wins, and...?
I'll continue this later. (Sorry - went to edit this and the text went haywire)
"Phil" on BBO
#3
- Limit bidder
-
- Group: Advanced Members
- Posts: 8,483
- Joined: 2004-November-02
- Gender:Female
- Location:England
- Interests:Bridge, classical music, skiing... but I spend more time earning a living than doing any of those
Posted 2007-August-31, 13:38
Yes. At the table I returned a club after winning the ace of diamonds (I didn't know partner's clubs were so ploppy) and it was definitely cold by various routes from there, though it took me a while to work them all through.
I'd reached the "what about a spade back bit....later" stage as well
I'd reached the "what about a spade back bit....later" stage as well
Page 1 of 1