[luis]

Scoring: MP

1c*-(1h)-1n(*)-4h
x-p-5h!-p
5s-p-6s!-p
p-p-p

1c=strong
1n=8+ with clubs

Opening lead: hK

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How do you play? There're two basic options.

[Free]

Seems like you have to count on 3-2 ♠ split to make the slam. To guard yourself against a 4-1 ♣ split, you should ruff the first ♥, ♠A, small ♦ to the A, ♥ ruffed, ♦ to the K, draw trumps, play ♦ to the Q and exit a ♣. Claim the rest. Lets hope the ♦'s aren't 5-1 or 6-0... (seems too easy to be an interesting bridge hand)

[cnszsun]

I will choose another line:
Ruff the first ♥, clear trumps, ♣ to K.
Wthout ♣A, i can't imagine East's 1H overcall, i think he will then either pass (with 5 hearts) or bid 2H (with 6 hearts).

[WGF_Flame]

The other line of taking the A on first round and playing a club to the J, its hard to say exactly how good this line is cause there are some hiden precentages, like the fact that east didnt lead a club which give less chances to him having a single, the fact that with A of club east will probebly jump with means that when he doesnt we can play the J and unless west got exactly AQX of clubs we can make them good, another good thing is easty having more hearts then west meaning west is less likely to hold a single clubs (with east AXXX) and even if he does then he almost definetly holds atleast 3 spades which mean it doesnt hurt when he ruffs.
is hold this better then playing on dimond being no worse then 4-2 ? probebly not
another line is to ruff the first drow trumps first and only then play clubs to the A which could be right too cause of east overcall hcp

[luke warm]

i think i'd ruff the first heart, lead a diamond to the board, lead a club toward the king.. that way if the king loses, i can take a trump return with the ace, get back to hand with a club ruff, and still ruff my last heart... i don't like depending on diamonds for entries, who knows how they'll break...

[inquiry]

luis, on Mar 1 2004, 02:01 PM, said:

Scoring: MP

1c*-(1h)-1n(*)-4h
x-p-5h!-p
5s-p-6s!-p
p-p-p

1c=strong
1n=8+ with clubs

Opening lead: hK

---

How do you play? There're two basic options.

This hand scares me. If there was no opposition bidding, I would ruff the ♥, play ♦ to my hand, ruff a ♥, cash ♠A, play ♦ to my hand and pull trumps.

However on this auctoin my VULNERABLE opponents did a lot of bidding on their combined 13 hcp. So they will have distribution, and since I always have a ♣ loser, ♠ are going to have to behave (3-2 split). So the odds are great that there is a singleton minor some place, and in fact, I would not be surprised if there are two singletons, one in each hand.

Therefore, I am not going to play for two ♥ ruffs in dummy. Instead, I will ruff the first ♥ to keep the ♥ACE for a control, and I will then pull trumps and play on ♣. While this looks risky, I think the actual odds of me getting it right are better than trying for two ♥ ruffs. One thing for sure, I don't think WEST was bidding 4♥ to make, so he will not have both ♣AQ, but I will have to guess which one EAST holds. This will look silly if both minors are splitting nicely. :-(

Ben

[luis]

Good inferences but many of you. Diamonds are indeed 5-1 so if you try to ruff both hearts getting to dummy in diamonds the second diamond is ruffed and you are inmediately down one.
I think this hand is a valid case to change the percentage play based on bidding inferences.
At the table declarer took the hA with the Ace and inmediately played a club, maybe trying to get RHO surprised. RHO played a low club but declarer inserted the king without hesitations. It held!
I'm not sure what is the best approach but I'm sure that trying to ruff two hearts is the worst option.

[Trpltrbl]

Lots of bidding on only 10 trumps and very few points. So unbalanced hands, so I am fairly sure the ♥ ruff is going to get painfull. I play for ♣ ace to be good.

Mike