[rbforster]

South opens a weak two and buys the contract in 2♠. Any suggestions on playing this hand in the 6-0 fit?

Scoring: IMP

2♠*-AP

* weaker than usual weak two bid, 3-8 pts

lead 7♥ (ducked if you play low)

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North took a pessimistic view (passing) given the potential weakness of opener and his misfit for spades. Without seeing all the hands, where would you like to play the contract? Any takers for 3N or 4♥, or are you willing to settle for the best partial you can reach?

[hotShot]

I'll win with the K and play a small ♠, i don't want them to ruff my side suit winner.

[ArtK78]

Jlall, on May 7 2008, 09:37 AM, said:

The usual plan in contracts like this is to take side suit winners + ruffs until you get to 8. I would win in hand and play a club up. I will try to ruff some clubs and take some red suit winners and some club tricks.

Looks best to me. Hope to make 2 or 3 hearts, a club, one or two diamonds and as many ruffs as I can manage, along with a spade trick in the end position.

[rbforster]

Thanks for the suggestions. This seemed to be the main decision - to try to draw trumps to preserve all your side tricks, or to just cash the side tricks while ruffing clubs hoping not to have to lead trumps out of your hand. I took the latter approach and managed to make exactly, but my partner seemed to think it would have been better to take the other approach.

3NT by North made on a favorable lie of the cards from North's side (both A's where with East, and West had no entry to lead clubs through). I was relatively happy to play in 2♠ under the circumstances.

[han]

This spade suit is very suitable for scrambling, you will take side tricks, a couple of ruffs plus some spade tricks in the end position.

[pclayton]

ArtK78, on May 7 2008, 07:19 AM, said:

Jlall, on May 7 2008, 09:37 AM, said:

The usual plan in contracts like this is to take side suit winners + ruffs until you get to 8. I would win in hand and play a club up. I will try to ruff some clubs and take some red suit winners and some club tricks.

Looks best to me. Hope to make 2 or 3 hearts, a club, one or two diamonds and as many ruffs as I can manage, along with a spade trick in the end position.

Yep. These can be fun hands to play, in spite of the frustration you initially feel when you see the board. The defenders have to stay off trump and let you ruff stuff in hand. Someone usually gets trump endplayed at about T9 or T10.

Too bad you missed 3N - it looks quite good.