[OSH]

...like me

NORTH'S HAND
♠: AQ
♥: KQxx
♦: A109x
♣: AQx

SOUTH'S HAND
♠: J8532
♥: A10xx
♦: Qx
♣: Kx

The bidding is not important, or better: the bidding is important because you are playing 6♥ from the wrong side......
The opening lead is diamond 8.

[Free]

Woops, I didn't see this was beginner/intermediate... I've hidden my answer so everyone can still try

Why is this the wrong side? Do you want opps to lead throught ♦Q? Doesn't make much difference imo.

Bidding in MOSCITO (south starts):
1♥ - 1♠ (1♥ = 4+♠, can have longer m, 9-15 ; 1♠ = inv+ relay)
2♥ - 2♠ (2♥ = 5+♠, 4♥ ; 2♠ = relay, GF)
3♣ - 3♦ (3♣ = 5-4-2-2 ; 3♦ = relay)
3♥ - 6♥ (3♥ = 6 Slam Points)

Bidding in MOSCITO (north starts and only bids relays):
1♣ - 1♦ (GF, any except 5440)
1♥ - 1♠ (singlesuited ♦/♥ or 2-suited with ♥)
1NT - 2♣ (2-suited ♥-♠)
2♦ - 3♦ (5-4-2-2)
3♥ - 3♠ (6 Slam Points)
6♥

So when North starts the bidding it's rightsided, and North's hand will be unknown!

As for the play:

take ♦A, play ♥K and Q, play 3 rounds of ♣ discarding your ♦, ♠A and Q, and if they don't take you can crossruff to victory, if they take, you can create your ♠s. I suspect trumps are 3-2, if they're 4-1 it's another story...

EDIT: no need to hide the text anymore imo

[OSH]

Free, on Aug 2 2004, 04:19 AM, said:

Why is this the wrong side? Do you want opps to lead throught ♦Q? Doesn't make much difference imo.

In your line of play, you consider your ♦Q as a 2, so if you play from north you can try to win the first trick with it, preserving an entry in south.....
Anyway, your line would have assured the contract.
But I have a question: running 2 rounds of trumps before playing spades loses if spades are 4-2 and the short opponent has ♥Jxx, why not to play on spades immediately?

[Free]

It has both it's advantages and disadvantages. I'm just guarding against ♠-♥ 4-3 and 2-2. Perhaps another line is better, but I'm sleepy today

About that ♦Q: in the current situation she really is nothing more than a 2. Say you win the first trick with ♦Q, you still have to go over ♠K and set ♠s up, whatever line you choose. So why take this unnecessary risk to finesse ♦K if you can discard your loser on ♣s, and try to create the ♠s?

[Chamaco]

Free, on Aug 2 2004, 02:50 PM, said:

About that ♦Q: in the current situation she really is nothing more than a 2.

I think OSH referred to the diamond layout as one of the reasons why it would be better fort N to be declarer: he would not be forced to decide immediately how to play diamonds and would have an extra tempo to try the spade finesse without having to ruff in S hand with entry problems for cashing spades once established.

[cherdano]

I think there is a clear improvement over Free's line: Instead of ♠A and Q, you start by running the queen. If they take it, you still have two entries to your hand to get the ♠J.This guards against spades 5-2. (I assume that hearts split 3-2, too lazy to think about what is best in case of a 4-1 split.

A very tough B/I hand IMHO

[inquiry]

cherdano, on Aug 2 2004, 02:13 PM, said:

I think there is a clear improvement over Free's line: Instead of ♠A and Q, you start by running the queen. If they take it, you still have two entries to your hand to get the ♠J.This guards against spades 5-2. (I assume that hearts split 3-2, too lazy to think about what is best in case of a 4-1 split.

A very tough B/I hand IMHO

This hardly seems an improvement. They win the ♠K and force you to ruff a diamond. Now you need 3-3 spades are you are sunk... spade to ace, trump your hand (your last entry). Now if SPADE JACK fails to pick up the pieces you are toast.

Ben

[OSH]

Chamaco, on Aug 2 2004, 12:23 PM, said:

Free, on Aug 2 2004, 02:50 PM, said:

About that ♦Q: in the current situation she really is nothing more than a 2.

I think OSH referred to the diamond layout as one of the reasons why it would be better fort N to be declarer: he would not be forced to decide immediately how to play diamonds and would have an extra tempo to try the spade finesse without having to ruff in S hand with entry problems for cashing spades once established.

Avoiding the diamond lead has the advantage that you don't need to waste your ♣K and preserve it as an entry. Of course, if you play the correct line you don't need this extra entry...
For example, playing ♠Q before ♠A, or taking the spade finesse, needs this extra entry. The line suggested by Cherdano fails also if the opponent, after taking ♠K, plays ♥J, again wasting an entry to hand.
I think that the key concept is "if they don't take you can crossruff to victory (Free)". I didn't realize this at the table, despite I have only to count my winners...