[paulg]

Not a difficult problem (that is, experts need not answer) but the kind of hand you should look to get right at the table as you improve.

(P) 4♠ (P) 6♠
All pass

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How do you play this hand when West leads the ♠4?

Paul

[han]

Great problem!

[jocdelevat]

my plan is: I take trump in hand and play small heart. if finesse works I play small club towards q. I count 7 spades 2 hearts 2 diamonds and a club. The point is k heart must be onside. I couldn't figure out any end play position if east holds kh and ac. if west holds ac and east kh we down for sure.

[pclayton]

Yes, this is one of those hands where you can give yourself a small, extra chance if you think about the hand a little more.

[pclayton]

jocdelevat, on Sep 23 2007, 09:43 AM, said:

my plan is: I take trump in hand and play small heart. if finesse works I play small club towards q. I count 7 spades 2 hearts 2 diamonds and a club. The point is k heart must be onside. I couldn't figure out any end play position if east holds kh and ac. if west holds ac and east kh we down for sure.

Hint: try to create a problem for RHO after you strip diamonds.

[jocdelevat]

oh I hope I got it. you mean strip diamonds then play club before hearts. that will put rho "with what to lead."

[Mbodell]

cardsharp, on Sep 23 2007, 11:21 AM, said:

Not a difficult problem (that is, experts need not answer) but the kind of hand you should look to get right at the table as you improve.

(P) 4♠ (P) 6♠
All pass

---

How do you play this hand when West leads the ♠4?

Paul

3 rounds of spades, followed by AK♦ and ♦ ruff. Play the Q♣. If RHO wins the A♣, we win. If LHO wins the A♣ and leads ♥ we must finesses. If Q holds, we are done since we can take the ♥ finesse and even if it loses we have no ♣ losers now.

[paulg]

Mbodell, on Sep 23 2007, 09:57 PM, said:

3 rounds of spades, followed by AK♦ and ♦ ruff.  Play the Q♣.  If RHO wins the A♣, we win.  If LHO wins the A♣ and leads ♥ we must finesses. If Q holds, we are done since we can take the ♥ finesse and even if it loses we have no ♣ losers now.

Yes.

Although it may be tempting (for some) to try and sneak a club trick by leading away from the king, if East holds the ♣A then he would be endplayed anyhow (assuming you have eliminated diamonds) so there is no need to sneak!

Paul

[PedroG]

Hi Paul,

2 trumps out, we can strip those even if we have to make two trump rounds.

Now only A♣ loser, both 6♦ and the rest of the clubs can be ruffed in hand.

So the big question is if W holds the K♥.

So what can be the difference between hand leading the J or opponents?

Well if E happens to hold the K♥ and the finesse would be bad, if he has the lead he can't lead it.

So the way u play clubs may influence, try and get E on the lead if possible.

Pedro

[neilkaz]

Pedro, I want to make sure that you aren't missing the end play chances here. Draw 2 trump as usual, strip the ♦ by ruffing the last one and then cross to dummy with a trump to lead towards the stiff Q of ♣ since you still have trump in dummy for the sluff and ruff and you may get RHO to hold up his ace.

However, you are cold as long as RHO has the ace since when he takes it he must lead into your ♥ and give you a free finesse and you pitch the 3rd one on the ♣.

Thus you make the hand when RHO has both missing key honors by this endplay.

[PedroG]

neilkaz, on Sep 24 2007, 10:46 PM, said:

Pedro, I want to make sure that you aren't missing the end play chances here. Draw 2 trump as usual, strip the ♦ by ruffing the last one and then cross to dummy with a trump to lead towards the stiff Q of ♣ since you still have trump in dummy for the sluff and ruff and you may get RHO to hold up his ace.

However, you are cold as long as RHO has the ace since when he takes it he must lead into your ♥ and give you a free finesse and you pitch the 3rd one on the ♣.

Thus you make the hand when RHO has both missing key honors by this endplay.

TY neilkaz,

funny how things are, just starting to read the chapter on EndPlays on Watson book .

When I started to write the post, I wasn't aware of the end play, but then when making all the questions in my head, it come clear

So TY Paul, it may be a simple quiz but it was interresting...

Pedro