[nige1]

Scoring: IMP



The contract is FOUR HEARTS not 4 SPADES but I can't edit the poll question

Another deal. on which I failed to star,
last night, at St Andrew Bridge Club.
We bid
(_P) 1♥ (_P) 2♦
(_P) 2♥ (_P) 4♥
AP

Can you reach 3N instead?
Or 4H by East?
Against your 4♥ North leads ♦4.
Please plan the play.

---

[maggieb]

I would just play the ♦A (and ♦7 from hand) and play a club off dummy.

I'll pay off to a spectacular diamond lead.

[Fluffy]

I play ♦Q, I see no other option to make this contract.

[maggieb]

Fluffy, on Dec 28 2008, 07:31 PM, said:

I play ♦Q, I see no other option to make this contract.

Really? Here is a defensive problem, for you, ♠xxxx ♥xx ♦KJxx ♣Axx . You also have a legitimate make whenever LHO has all the entries.

[ArcLight]

maggieb, on Dec 28 2008, 08:24 PM, said:

Fluffy, on Dec 28 2008, 07:31 PM, said:

I play ♦Q, I see no other option to make this contract.

Really? Here is a defensive problem, for you, ♠xxxx ♥xx ♦KJxx ♣Axx . You also have a legitimate make whenever LHO has all the entries.

If you rise with the dime ace, you have a certain dime, club, and spade loser, and very likley a heart loser.

If the dime finesse wins, you will probably make.
If it loses you lose a dime any way, or am I misisng something?

[rogerclee]

ArcLight, on Dec 28 2008, 07:41 PM, said:

am I misisng something?

yes

[ASkolnick]

Yes, theoretically if the opening leader hand holds a stiff diamond, the AC, AS and 2 or 3 hearts, you can pitch your diamond on the long club.

Very possible since the lead is most likely a singleton, therefore you cannot make it if the KD is off.

[ArcLight]

With some additional thought - why is LHO leading dummys suit? It probably is a stiff, so going up with the ace is the only way to make.
However , I think our chances are poor, because we will likely have a trump loser.


>> Yes, theoretically if the opening leader hand holds a stiff diamond, the AC, AS and 2 or 3 hearts, you can pitch your diamond on the long club.

Good point, thank you.

[nige1]

nige1, on Dec 28 2008, 05:22 PM, said:

Scoring: IMP


Another deal. on which I failed to star,
last night, at St Andrew Bridge Club.
We bid
(_P) 1♥ (_P) 2♦
(_P) 2♥ (_P) 4♥
AP
Can you reach 3N instead?
Or 4H by East?
Against your 4♥ North  leads ♦4.
Please plan the play.

---

ASkolnick, on Dec 29 2008, 11:08 AM, said:

Yes, theoretically if the opening leader hand holds a stiff diamond, the AC, AS and 2 or 3 hearts, you can pitch your diamond on the long club. Very possible since the lead is most likely a singleton, therefore you cannot make it if the KD is off.

• Bidding: Its hard to avoid 4♥. Although, perhaps West should not open; and perhaps East should bid 3♣.
  
• Play:You need a favourable ♥ position. Like ASKolnick, my feeling at the table was that the lead was a singleton but I woodenly finessed ♦Q. Rising with ♦A saves a trick (at least).
  • Again, as ASKolnick says, rising with ♦A is a legitimate chance, if LHO has a singleton ♦ and both black Aces.
    
  • You sometimes succeed when LHO has four ♦s but no honours in any other suit.
  In fact the Aces were split, so, if you rise with ♦A, you would also need a midefence.