[kenrexford]

joshs, on May 21 2008, 12:44 PM, said:

OK, I think the defense is incredibly easy here, and that the defenders will cash 1 or 2 rounds of diamonds (depending on who wins the first diamond), and then lead an appropriate major , and if its spades I am worse off then before.

I think you will agree how humorous your assessment turns out to be.

You state that the defense will cash one or two diamonds and then switch to a spade. If they cash two diamonds, like the Ace and King, I am left with the J9x with only the Queen outstanding above this. So, I win the spade and play the diamond Jack. At a minimum, then, I win two spades, three hearts, two clubs, and a diamond. If the fifth diamond establishes, I have my ninth trick without even touching clubs. I also win, now, if the hearts are 3-3 or the Jack drops doubleton. If neither of those work, I still have play, I think.

So, I'm not sure that the obvious defense is all that obvious or costly.

[joshs]

kenrexford, on May 21 2008, 01:20 PM, said:

joshs, on May 21 2008, 12:44 PM, said:

OK, I think the defense is incredibly easy here, and that the defenders will cash 1 or 2 rounds of diamonds (depending on who wins the first diamond), and then lead an appropriate major , and if its spades I am worse off then before.

I think you will agree how humorous your assessment turns out to be.

You state that the defense will cash one or two diamonds and then switch to a spade. If they cash two diamonds, like the Ace and King, I am left with the J9x with only the Queen outstanding above this. So, I win the spade and play the diamond Jack. At a minimum, then, I win two spades, three hearts, two clubs, and a diamond. If the fifth diamond establishes, I have my ninth trick without even touching clubs. I also win, now, if the hearts are 3-3 or the Jack drops doubleton. If neither of those work, I still have play, I think.

So, I'm not sure that the obvious defense is all that obvious or costly.

When I said 1 or 2, it depends on who wins the first diamond. If east wins the first diamond, they will never play a second diamond (will probably play a spade). And I mean NEVER. If west wins the first diamond they might lead a second diamond which forces dummy to split the J9. Come on ken, I am not playing against total idiots.

[kenrexford]

Yeah, that may be true. I play against a lot of total idiots, though. Flight A is frightening these days.

[nige1]

joshs, on May 19 2008, 12:37 PM, said:

Scoring: IMP

You are in 3N after showing 5+C,  4S and about 8-10 HCP:
♥9 is led (Standard leads). Plan the play.

---

Agree with Justin, Phil, and Ken: ♥AK (Pclayton) Then

• If ♥J drops then cross to ♥T to finesse ♣9.
  
• If ♥J does not drop then ♦T hoping for defensive error (kenrexford)
  
• If opps exit in a major, then ♣K. Now, if West plays ♣8 then ♣K paying off to clever false card (JLall]
  
• Otherwise overtake ♣9 with ♣T