[brianshark]

Scoring: MP

This is the first board of a 2-session Pairs competition.

Auction:
P - 1♠ - 2♥ - 3♣
3♥ - 4♥ - P - 4♠
P - 5♦ - P - 6♠
P - P - P

Lead: ♥A

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[Echognome]

Not quite sure what I'm missing. Can't I just play:

1. ruff
2. ♠A
3. ♠K (seeing if they are 4-1 onside), if so:

4a. Draw trumps, run clubs, take 12 tricks (if spades are 4-1 and clubs are 4-0, then I'm off).

4b. Draw trumps, play clubs and take the free diamond finesse.

[rogerclee]

If RHO drops the ♠9 on the A, I am taking the spade finesse.

[ceeb]

rogerclee, on Aug 8 2008, 06:20 PM, said:

If RHO drops the ♠9 on the A, I am taking the spade finesse.

Gaining if it's a singleton and the clubs break; losing against ♠J9(x).

♠A, K succeeds against 4-1 onside; ♠A, Q against either 4-1 if the ♦ finesse works. Seems like a tossup.

[jonottawa]

I don't think it's a toss-up at all. Bidding 3♥ with a stiff Spade is very unlikely/unusual, albeit not impossible.

After testing Spades, if they're 3-2 you ruff a Diamond and make 7 (assuming 3-1 Clubs.) It is pairs, after all.

[ceeb]

You're right -- it's certainly not a tossup. I forgot that there was bidding. RHO can hardly have both a singleton spade and the diamond king, so ♠A,Q makes no sense.

[brianshark]

LHO held ♠J9xx ♥AKJxxx ♦xx ♣x

If you Cash the A and K of ♠s, RHO then shows out. If you then attack ♣s, LHO will ruff in on the 3rd round killing the entry to the ♣s.

I think the only way to make is to cash the AQ of ♠s. If the ♠s break the you can draw the last trump, cash ♣s and take a ♦ finesse for the 13th. On this deal, when they don't break and you need to attack ♣s and when LHO ruffs on the 3rd round, and exits a ♥ or whatever, you can draw trump and have to take the ♦ hook for the 12th trick.

[Echognome]

brianshark, on Aug 12 2008, 12:24 AM, said:

LHO held ♠J9xx ♥AKJxxx ♦xx ♣x

If you Cash the A and K of ♠s, RHO then shows out. If you then attack ♣s, LHO will ruff in on the 3rd round killing the entry to the ♣s.

I think the only way to make is to cash the AQ of ♠s. If the ♠s break the you can draw the last trump, cash ♣s and take a ♦ finesse for the 13th. On this deal, when they don't break and you need to attack ♣s and when LHO ruffs on the 3rd round, and exits a ♥ or whatever, you can draw trump and have to take the ♦ hook for the 12th trick.

Not sure why I should divine to guard for LHO having 4 trumps when he is the overcaller. This is especially the case at MPs when if RHO has the 4 trumps, making the extra trick may be crucial.

[brianshark]

Right. There was some discussion between me and a few guys who were trying to figure out the best line to safely make 6S (I don't think we need to play for an overtrick necessarily - it's an iffy slam, the field probably won't be in it, and if they are in slam, 6C is superior but 6S > 6C+1).

Both lines make if trumps are 3-2, but the AK line makes an easy overtrick. The AQ line works for either 4-1 break if the ♦K is onside. The AK line works independent of the ♦K's position but requires the 4-1 break to be onside.

The bidding suggests the AK line to be the better chance. I guess making this slam requires sub-optimal play after all.