[Mbodell]

Scoring: MP

P-1♠*-3♥-X
P-4♥-P-5♣
All pass

1♠ is limited to 10-15 hcp

---

K♥-7-A-2
Q♥-5-6-8
J♥-3♦-T♣-K♣

Now what?

Do you assume that the person who has 7♥ is unlikely to have 3♣ and play the top 2 ♣ or do you assume that giving up the ruff-sluff in hearts could only be done with 3♣ to promote? Do you cash one more club and cross to dummy (in ♠ or ♦?) to protect against JT tight with West at the slight risk of a ruff?

[shevek]

I think East's ♥J was an error. How can he be sure his partner does not have ♦A?
You could have ♠K  ♥xx  ♦JTxxx  ♣AQTxx
Here the ♥J gives 11 tricks on a squeeze.
Nor should East have ♠Kx. Then you might pitch your spade loser on ♥J.

Why not a diamond back? Maybe he has no diamonds?
♠xxx  ♥AQJxxxx  ♦---  ♣Jxx
seems possible. Of course, no trump switch in case West has ♣Qx.
Hang on, East would not overtake ♥K with that, rather ask for a diamond.

Would West open a balanced 11-count like
♠Kxxx  ♥Kx  ♦Axxx  ♣JTx?

If yes, I'll play him for
♠Kxxxx  ♥Kx  ♦Axxx  ♣Tx

and hook against East. Actually, I'll do that anyway on crude restricted choice.
Should I play East for 1-7-1-4 and run ♣9? Maybe. However,
♠x  ♥AQJxxxx  ♦x  ♣Jxxx
looks like an easy 4♥ overcall (not vul/MPs/passed partner).

So I'll play ♣9 to the ace, cross to ♠A and finesse.

[shevek]

shevek, on Sep 10 2008, 09:53 AM, said:

I think East's ♥J was an error. How can he be sure his partner does not have ♦A?
You could have ♠K  ♥xx  ♦JTxxx  ♣AQTxx
Here the ♥J gives 11 tricks on a squeeze.

Couldn't count but South could have 6 clubs.

[nige1]

Mbodell, on Sep 10 2008, 02:30 AM, said:

Scoring: MP

P-1♠*-3♥-X
P-4♥-P-5♣
All pass
1♠ is limited to 10-15 hcp
K♥-7-A-2
Q♥-5-6-8
J♥-3♦-T♣-K♣
Now what? Do you assume that the person who has 7♥ is unlikely to have 3♣ and play the top 2 ♣ or do you assume that giving up the ruff-sluff in hearts could only be done with 3♣ to promote? Do you cash one more club and cross to dummy (in ♠ or ♦?) to protect against JT tight with West at the slight risk of a ruff?

---

A priori, RHO is unlikely to hold long clubs, but I still guess to run ♣9 playing RHO for ♣Jxx(x). Congratulate RHO if if loses

[pclayton]

I would tend not to hook RHO, but it seems it can't hurt to do a little fishing first.

After the ♣K, try A♠, ruff a spade, A♣, ♦ to board (safe since RHO overtook the heart), ruff a spade.

If RHO follows to all three spades, we know RHO can't have 3 clubs. If RHO shows out on the 3rd spade, I suppose we have to guess between 2=7=2=2 and 2=7=1=3.

If RHO turns up with the ♠K, I think we'd be nuts to hook clubs, since RHO might have gave away the contract if we had a doubleton spade (not impossible on the bidding).