[Trumpace]

You are South in rubber bridge and reach 4NT.

West leads the heart 2.

You see:

Scoring: Rubber

Lead heart 2.

---

You try the heart 9 from dummy and RHO plays the King.

Plan the play.

[aguahombre]

Trumpace, on Feb 4 2010, 11:33 AM, said:

You are South in rubber bridge and reach 4NT.

Really?

[hanp]

It's a play problem Hombre.

[Trumpace]

aguahombre, on Feb 4 2010, 01:48 PM, said:

Trumpace, on Feb 4 2010, 11:33 AM, said:

You are South in rubber bridge and reach 4NT.

Really?

This is just a made up problem based on a real deal on BBO. So, why not?

[Trumpace]

I think I might have goofed trying to make the point clearer.

I have edited the hand.

[shyams]

I think this is simple when I think a few moments; but is easy to err at the table where I often play reflexively.

The winning line should be (hidden):

Spoiler

Win trick 1 with the Ace and play low spade towards dummy, finessing the 9! Such a finesse is needed because you want to retain an entry to dummy after the spade suit is established.

If I play low to King, West or East will duck twice with ATxx; now I only make 2 spades to go with 3 hearts and 3 diamonds -- i.e. I suddenly need the club finesse to make the contract

[Cyberyeti]

shyams, on Feb 5 2010, 03:51 AM, said:

I think this is simple when I think a few moments; but is easy to err at the table where I often play reflexively.

The winning line should be (hidden):

Spoiler

Win trick 1 with the Ace and play low spade towards dummy, finessing the 9! Such a finesse is needed because you want to retain an entry to dummy after the spade suit is established.

If I play low to King, West or East will duck twice with ATxx; now I only make 2 spades to go with 3 hearts and 3 diamonds -- i.e. I suddenly need the club finesse to make the contract

Since the edit, this works, I looked at it before the edit, thought of this and then realised the right switch messed it up.

This is an example of declarer making a play that appears in books as one made by a defender.

[hanp]

good edit!

[vuroth]

My plan is to lead low to the 9♠. If the ten is on my left, my path to 10 tricks seems clear.

If LHO has at least 2 spades (he doesn't have more than 4), leading up to spades a second time should ensure me 3 spade tricks.

The nice part is that I may need clubs in order to get to my spade winners, but RHO can't lead clubs without giving me a trick.

Also, I'll hold onto the 2 of clubs, just in case.