[gnasher]

Given unlimited entries, what's the best play for one trick with K32 opposite 10876, and why?

[655321]

Wow, I don't think I have seen this one before.

OK, I think we run the 6, then play to the King.

My first idea was that by finessing for the 9 and the Ace the same way, we only lose when the same hand has both cards, and that is a much smaller number of combinations. So I lose to A9 opposite QJ54 (one holding), and to AQJ9 opposite 54 (one holding). Except there are also 2 more cases - I will also lose to J9 and Q9 if North is tricky and wins with the top card, for 4 losing cases of the 4-2 breaks.

By finessing for the 9 the other way (low to 6, then low to King), I lose to A5 and A4 over the King (2 holdings) as well as AQJ5 and AQJ4 over the King (2 more holdings), again 4 holdings in total. I don't think there is any deceptive opportunity for the defense here, because I can play low to the King on the second round whatever happens on trick 1, then still finesse again for the 9.

If we play low towards the T, and the Q(J) pops, we don't know if that is singleton Q, or AQ doubleton. But if we play the 6 first, and the Q pops up, we have a trick in the suit by force, and I think that is the tie-breaker in favor of running the 6.

(Actually, running the 6 then low to King still works when it loses to a singleton 9, whereas playing low to the 6 and losing to the singleton 9 makes zero tricks).

[Codo]

I wonder how a hand looks like, where you have unlimited entries but still have to play this suit by yourself. I had thought that any elimination and endgame must be far better then playing this suit by myself.

But given the conditions, I would play towards the 6. If the finesse is right, you are home when you repeat the finesse. Obviously you are home when clubs are 3-3. too.
If the 6 lose to the nine, I play towards the king. This line wil lose only, when the guy behind the king holds exactly A5 or A4, or when the other holds exactly 94, 9 or 95. And in these cases, his partner must know that he has to play low from AQJx.

[FrancesHinden]

Codo, on Oct 28 2008, 08:32 AM, said:

I wonder how a hand looks like, where you have unlimited entries but still have to play this suit by yourself. I had thought that any elimination and endgame must be far better then playing this suit by myself.

A better question might have been:

Given unlimited entries, how do you generate an extra trick from either

K32 opposite 10876

or

10972 opposite A32

without losing five tricks first

(you have 7 solid tricks in the minors, the ace of the second combination above, and you are in 3NT)

[gnasher]

FrancesHinden, on Oct 28 2008, 10:22 AM, said:

A better question might have been:

That would have been a different question. If you must hijack my thread instead of starting one of your own, can't you at least wait until I've had a few more responses?

[OleBerg]

gnasher, on Oct 28 2008, 11:47 AM, said:

FrancesHinden, on Oct 28 2008, 10:22 AM, said:

A better question might have been:

That would have been a different question. If you must hijack my thread instead of starting one of your own, can't you at least wait until I've had a few more responses?

What is the capital of Assyria?

Now, that would have been a different question!

[FrancesHinden]

If I really wanted to hijack the thread, I'd have given the auction at our table, which completely changes the answer.

Thread diversion is a normal part of the forum. Live with it.

p.s. if you want to get your own back, post a play problem in 5Dx in the B/I forum and show how many people avoid going off.

[han]

I'm calling K32 dummy.

I think running the 6 and then running the 7 is best. It loses when LHO has 54, 5 or 4 and when RHO has Q9 or J9. That's 5 holdings, better than any alternative I have tried.

For example, leading low to the 6 and then leading low to the king loses when LHO has 94, 95 or 9 or when RHO has A5, A4, AQ, AJ, so 7 holdings. If RHO plays the Q or J at trick one you could decide to change tacks by running the 10 so that you can pick up those AQ and AJ as well as Q9 and J9 but then you lose when LHO has 54, 5 or 4 and you actually do worse.

[Codo]

han, on Oct 28 2008, 11:43 PM, said:

I'm calling K32 dummy.

I think running the 6 and then running the 7 is best. It loses when LHO has 54, 5 or 4 and when RHO has Q9 or J9. That's 5 holdings, better than any alternative I have tried.

For example, leading low to the 6 and then leading low to the king loses when LHO has 94, 95 or 9 or when RHO has A5, A4, AQ, AJ, so 7 holdings. If RHO plays the Q or J at trick one you could decide to change tacks by running the 10 so that you can pick up those AQ and AJ as well as Q9 and J9 but then you lose when LHO has 54, 5 or 4 and you actually do worse.

U R right, my line lose heavily to singelton jack and queen too, so there are seven ways to win no trick.