[inquiry]

We have all seen and kibitzed Jimmy Cayne matches, some of us have played in them (in my case with not a good result for me). All these hands will be from Feb 2, 2009 match. Here is the second hand from that match on the BBO, see how you would do. Note: these actual hands and not problem hands, per se. Most will not be a major challenge BBO forum regulars.

Eventually we will assign imps for different actions.

Scoring: IMP

(1♦)-1♥-(3♦)!-Pass
(3NT) - all pass

As you can see, the 3♦ bid was alerted as "weak"

Partner leads the ♠6 to Q-K-A

Declearer plays ♦A partner playing the queen), and another ♦ (partner wins the king).

Partner continues the ♠4 to 9-Ten and south plays the ♠5.

---

Scoring: IMP

(1♦)-1♥-(3♦)!-Pass
(3NT) - all pass

As you can see, the 3♦ bid was alerted as "weak"

Partner leads the ♠6 to Q-K-A

Declearer plays ♦A partner playing the queen), and another ♦ (partner wins the king).

Partner continues the ♠4 to 9-Ten and south plays the ♠5.

---

[ArtK78]

Cash the high spade and play a heart.

Given that partner led a spade, not a heart, his heart suit is not strong enough for him to lead it. But he might have the AQ of hearts. So, I want to cash our 5 tricks.

If I do not cash the high spade, I will never get it. Declarer has 4 diamonds and a spade, and he will probably get a heart and 3 clubs for his nine tricks.

I am certainly hoping that cashing my high spade does not give declarer his ninth trick. But I doubt that is the case. It may give him a 10th trick, but that is not relevant.

[se12sam]

Declarer is probably sitting with ♠82 and hoping I cash the ♠Q.

Declarer could have began life with ♠A852 ♥AQ ♦A953 ♣Axx. At this time, he has only 7 tricks. The only way the contract makes is if I cash the ♠Q before playing a heart. This sets up the ♠8 AND sets up partner for a later endplay (partner gets thrown in with ♥K to lead away from his presumed ♣K)

I think partner will produce enough tricks in defense if I switch now to ♥6. If declarer started life with 3 ♣ tricks, I don't think I can beat the contract.

PS: I'll feel sore if partner played those cards from ♠642 or from ♠864

[TimG]

If partner was interested in a heart switch, wouldn't he have played the diamond king then the diamond queen rather than the other way around?

[Phil]

I'm not cashing a spade.

Its either a heart or a club for me, since I think declarer is 4342. I am trying to find a layout where it matters and Im having a tough time.

[Phil]

se12sam, on Jul 1 2009, 02:25 PM, said:

PS: I'll feel sore if partner played those cards from ♠642 or from ♠864

Consider yourself Grosvenored then. Declarer has an obvious holdup with Axx.

[se12sam]

Phil, on Jul 1 2009, 09:47 PM, said:

se12sam, on Jul 1 2009, 02:25 PM, said:

PS: I'll feel sore if partner played those cards from ♠642 or from ♠864

Consider yourself Grosvenored then. Declarer has an obvious holdup with Axx.

Agreed

However, if we are playing standard carding, the 6-4 shows even count -- and partner could have clarified by playing 4-6 or 6-8 with a 3-card holding. If we are playing UDCA, I still have a problem...

[xcurt]

I think that

* declarer doesn't have A8xx, ?, A9xx, A since that hand looks very suitish.
* so declarer probably has 4342, since with a doubleton heart partner either has a solid heart sequence or ♥KJT9xx and probably would have led them
* declarer has at least 2 of the top 5 hearts (and probably 2 of the top 4) else partner, holding 5 hearts would just clear hearts on the lead

The only declarer hand I can construct where it's right to play cash the spade before I play hearts is A8xx, KJT, A9xx, AK. Other hands with CAK that are not 2NT openers and contain at least two heart honors cannot generate 9 tricks playing one on one vs partner, eg A8xx, KT9, A9xx, AK partner can defeat the strip squeeze by keeping all of his clubs.

If declarer has A8xx, AQx, A9xx, Ax cashing the spade is fatal since declarer can duck the heart through and then play to squeeze partner in the rounded suits. If I play a club against this hand declarer can duck, win the club return and run diamonds to reach

8, AQx, --, -- vs --, 87x, --, Q

and now if partner kept 2 clubs declarer ducks a heart. if partner kept one club declarer plays ♣Q and ducks a heart.

So I'm playing a heart without cashing the spade.

[se12sam]

xcurt, on Jul 2 2009, 02:43 AM, said:

If declarer has A8xx, AQx, A9xx, Ax cashing the spade is fatal since declarer can duck the heart through and then play to squeeze partner in the rounded suits. 

Actually, an endplay is imminent if declarer held this hand. You lead a heart and declarer plays ♥x (the pips in dummy are bigger). Partner has to win and is endplayed immediately.

* If partner returns a heart, declarer wins and plays ♣A then ♣x. This creates 1+2+4+2 tricks for him
* If partner returns a club, the endplay repeats after a few tricks. Declarer puts up dummy's ♣Q, crosses to hand in ♣A and runs the remaining 3 diamonds. Finally, the last club from dummy puts partner in for a lead into ♥AQ

[cherdanno]

se12sam, on Jul 2 2009, 04:28 AM, said:

xcurt, on Jul 2 2009, 02:43 AM, said:

If declarer has A8xx, AQx, A9xx, Ax cashing the spade is fatal since declarer can duck the heart through and then play to squeeze partner in the rounded suits. 

Actually, an endplay is imminent if declarer held this hand. You lead a heart and declarer plays ♥x (the pips in dummy are bigger). Partner has to win and is endplayed immediately.

[...]
* If partner returns a club, the endplay repeats after a few tricks. Declarer puts up dummy's ♣Q, crosses to hand in ♣A and runs the remaining 3 diamonds. Finally, the last club from dummy puts partner in for a lead into ♥AQ

Only if partner doesn't unblock ♣K?

[gnasher]

cherdanno, on Jul 2 2009, 10:38 AM, said:

Only if partner doesn't unblock ♣K?

Declarer doesn't cash the second club. He just runs the diamonds, coming down to
87x

---

If partner keeps 2-2, declarer ducks a heart; otherwise he cashes a club and exits with a low heart

[cherdanno]

I was talking about the play after we return a heart at trick 5.

[gnasher]

Sorry. Not having a good morning, am I?

[hotShot]

inquiry, on Jul 1 2009, 06:01 PM, said:

Scoring: IMP

(1♦)-1♥-(3♦)!-Pass
(3NT) - all pass

As you can see, the 3♦ bid was alerted as "weak"

Partner leads the ♠6 to Q-K-A

Declearer plays ♦A partner playing the queen), and another ♦ (partner wins the king).

Partner continues the ♠4 to 9-Ten and south plays the ♠5. 

---

Dealer: West Vul: N/S Scoring: IMP

♠   ♥ 874 ♦ JT6 ♣ Q32 ♠ Q73 ♥ 65 ♦   ♣ JT96

How do you continue to trick 5?

I guess you mean that dummy plays the J at trick 1 because he does not have the Q and South could no longer have the Q in position 2?

[inquiry]

Feb 2, board 3 Defense is the toughest part of the game in my opinion. Here, the gold star holding this hand continued with the top spade. This gave the declarer his 9th trick. Phil and a few others got this one right. It turns out a normal club return (JACK, etc) or a heart to the suit partner bid will set this contract.

I have to admit I made one small edit in the description and in the card play showed. I had JEC play the spade FIVE at trick four. At the table JEC actually played the two (I edited the Lin file to show the play I gave in the "problem".)

[Phil]

inquiry, on Jul 2 2009, 09:01 PM, said:

Feb 2, board 3 Defense is the toughest part of the game in my opinion. Here, the gold star holding this hand continued with the top spade. This gave the declarer his 9th trick. Phil and a few others got this one right. It turns out a normal club return (JACK, etc) or a heart to the suit partner bid will set this contract.

I have to admit I made one small edit in the description and in the card play showed. I had JEC play the spade FIVE at trick four. At the table JEC actually played the two (I edited the Lin file to show the play I gave in the "problem".)

I suppose if Cayne ducks the first the spade (to set up a strip squeeze later), the defense needs a club shift at T2.

Cute hand. Keep 'em coming Ben

[gnasher]

Phil, on Jul 3 2009, 04:42 AM, said:

Keep 'em coming Ben

Yes, please do.