[mikeh]

In response to the request by a B/I poster, in another combo thread, I pose the following, with apologies if it is too easy.

AK9xx opposite 10xx... with one entry to the hand containing 10xx... you need 4 tricks in the suit, and can afford to lose one (they can't set you by taking just ine trick in the suit).

[vuroth]

I'm not fond of puzzling out all the possible hands, but I'll give it a shot.

Obviously, playing from the top picks up any 3-2. There's no harm in losing a trick early, though, as I'll still pick up any 3-2 for 4 tricks.

If you're going to duck, I think it makes more sense to duck the second trick. Ducking the first might give someone with Hx an interesting choice, but I already know I can handle any 3-2.

The idea, I guess, is to leave myself with K9, knocking out either the K or Q with the T (or the A if I'm lucky), in case LHO has 4 or 5.

[frouu]

I think critical holdings when lho of short stack has QJ87 vs x and Q876 vs J... It seems playing Ace then small to the T gives 4 tricks in these cases. if we have an extra entry to the long suit, we can cash K and unblock T if an honour drops when we play the ace so we wont lose a trick if rho has QJ tight.

[vin1990]

For 4 tricks play A then low to 9 (Not listing all combos - for 5 tricks depending on entries it's either run 10 or play low to 9 then ace; for 3 tricks play low to 9 then A)

[mtvesuvius]

Isn't it best to play (hidden)

Spoiler

Run the ten, then cash an honor and play accordingly?
This only loses when RHO has QJ.

[skjaeran]

mtvesuvius, on Jul 8 2009, 03:10 AM, said:

Isn't it best to play (hidden)

Spoiler

Run the ten, then cash an honor and play accordingly?
This only loses when RHO has QJ.

You've got only one entry to the Txx hand, according to the OP....

[ArtK78]

I believe that this is the solution:

Spoiler

Cash the Ace. If an honor drops you have 4 tricks (if an honor drops behind the AK9xx, you have two options for making 5 tricks in the suit, but that is not the issue). If an honor does not drop, low to the 10. If the hand behind the AK9xx shows out on the second round of the suit, you can use the one entry to the hand with the Txx to finesse against the remaining honor to bring in 4 tricks. If both follow to two rounds of the suit, the suit runs for 4 tricks without a finesse. If the hand in front of the AK9xx shows out, or if the suit is 5-0, you could never bring in the suit for 4 tricks.

[Jlall]

mtvesuvius, on Jul 7 2009, 08:10 PM, said:

Isn't it best to play (hidden)

Spoiler

Run the ten, then cash an honor and play accordingly?
This only loses when RHO has QJ.

Nope, even if you had the entries to do it you are now losing 2 tricks to stiff honor onside. You should be able to guarantee 4 tricks unless it's QJxx offside or QJxxx somewhere.

[mtvesuvius]

Jlall, on Jul 8 2009, 04:16 PM, said:

mtvesuvius, on Jul 7 2009, 08:10 PM, said:

Isn't it best to play (hidden)

Spoiler

Run the ten, then cash an honor and play accordingly?
This only loses when RHO has QJ.

Nope, even if you had the entries to do it you are now losing 2 tricks to stiff honor onside. You should be able to guarantee 4 tricks unless it's QJxx offside or QJxxx somewhere.

Yeah, Art's play is clearly right... That's what I get for not paying attention

[jdonn]

Also, if you play the ace and the jack or queen drops behind it, you should abandon your original plan of leading low to the ten and instead simply play the king next. If the honor was singleton you will eventually be able to force out the other, but there is no reason to give up on QJ doubleton if it exists.

[ArtK78]

A revision to my prior post:

Spoiler

I was wrong about one thing. If an honor drops behind the AK9xx, you only have one play for 5 tricks in the suit - cash the King (as Josh said). Your spots are not good enough to pick up Q876 onside for 5 winners.