[Fluffy]

IMPs EW Vul

♠xx
♥9x
♦AK8xx
♣6543

♠Q
♥AK10xxx
♥Q4
♣KJ102


1♥-(1♠)-X-(3[SP)
4♥-ps-ps-ps

[sp]A lead, RHO plays ♠J
♠K continued RHO playing ♠9

on ♥AK LHO follows with 2 small, RHO with small and queen.

[655321]

Our choices seem to be either cross to dummy twice in diamonds to play clubs up, or to play for 3-3 diamonds (with doubleton ♣Q onside as an extra chance).

If we want to play for 3-3 diamonds we have to play another trump - and if RHO wins and returns a club we still have to guess the clubs.

If we want to play for the clubs to behave (3-2 with the Q onside) it doesn't hurt to play a 3rd trump now.

So in either case I play another trump now - pitching a club on the trump, and another club from dummy if a spade is returned. Who won the trump, and what do they play?

[nige1]

Ruff the 2nd ♠, cash ♥AK, Concede a ♥, Ruff the ♠ return, cash ♦QKA. Claim if ♦ break. Otherwise, if you count RHO for 3+♣, then play ♣K, else finesse ♣J. I'm not good at sums, but this feels better than 2 X ♣ finesse.

[Fluffy]

how do you count spades nige?

LHO has ♥J and will return a spade

[655321]

♦QKA for me too.

With the opponents having 10 spades and only bidding to 3♠ I am guessing there are no singletons around. Crossing to dummy twice and playing clubs wins when RHO is 4243 with ♣Q, but playing on diamonds works when RHO is 5233, or 5242 with the ♣Q (or 4234, but that shape gives LHO a singleton). Depends on the opponents of course, but some people won't bid 3♠ vulnerable on something like JTxx Qx Jxxx Qxx.

[nige1]

Fluffy, on Sep 27 2009, 04:51 AM, said:

how do you count spades nige? LHO has ♥J and will return a spade

You don't always get a reliable count. But often it will be more than adequate. For example If LHO is the defender with 4+♦, you should certainly play him for singleton ♣Q -- especially when you find out that he has 3♥.