[Gerben42]

Here's the 2nd declarer play problem from the Würzburg tournament.

---

After this natural sequence, the lead was ♠3 (opps play 3rd and 5th) - 9 - A - 7. Then ♠5 - 2 - 4 - 10. Nice, 2 tricks in ♠. What's your plan at IMPs?

[Fluffy]

I love this one

[W Kovacs]

I'll give it a shot, though I usually am wrong.

Spoiler

I lead the heart toward the K. If it is allowed to win (I think likely), then I play the K♦ and the 9♦, covering if North covers. Getting 4 diamond tricks seems safer than collecting collecting 2 hearts and hoping the diamond finesse works. Spades are 4-3 with South holding the Q, unless North decided to lead from a doubleton. If diamonds break 3-2, I get 9 tricks regardless of whether the 9♦ finesse loses or not (I still have the K♠ stopper, and the QJ♥ is a stopper). If diamonds are 4-1 with the QTxx South, I'm not sure we can make it anyway (going to lose KQ♠, QT♦ and A♥).

[twcho]

Spoiler

Nice Problem.

The normal trap is to lead ♥9 to your hand at this point. If south goes up with A, you have 9 tricks. So either you win with your ♥ honor or north capture it with the A.

Suppose you win. You have 2♠, 1♥ and 2♣. So you just need 4♦ tricks. Play with maximum safety. Play a small ♦ to A and then back to finesse the 9 or go up with the K if south shows out. You can tackle any 41 break.

However, if north wins with ♥A and returns a ♣, you have to go up with A/K but then you will not be able to play the safety play in ♦ because north may gain in and play the 2nd ♣ to block dummy from winning the ♦.

The right play is to play ♦A and follow by small ♦ to 9.

If south goes up with Q/10, you can win ♦K and play a ♥ honor from hand (not a ♦). Either you win or you can win any return and cash one ♥ and then return your attention to ♦.

If south doesn't go up with ♦Q/10, you finesse and you can then safely play ♥, careful to unblock ♦K depending on which black suit north returns.

[vuroth]

Ok only way I can make sense of spades is if south started with AQxx.

K♥. If they rise (they often do), I have 8 EDIT 9 I was in dummy. But it's better for them if they don't, so I'll assume they duck. Now I'll duck a ♣.

This may come down to a ♦ guess, but maybe they'll lead them for me before I get there. I'm ok with losing 2 ♠, a ♥ and a ♣ along the way, so I'm in no hurry to break diamonds. Along the way, I might get a count on HCP, which could help me make the decision in diamonds if it comes to it.

[vuroth]

twcho

Spoiler

Start with the 9♥ anyways. If the King wins, play as you say, and you're home.

If the K♥ loses, and a ♣ is returned, win, play low to the K♦, then run the 9 back, covering if necessary. If south shows out, you have the 4♦ in hand (and the spade entry to get there), and H8♦ to repeat the finesse.

Does that work?

[Gerben42]

Here's is the full hand:

Spoiler

---

You have 2♠ and 2♣. You can ascertain 4♦ by playing ♦A and then small to the 9, playing the K if South shows out. Now if the hand is as shown, ♦9 wins and you can simply develop 2♥ for 9 tricks. If ♦ are 4-1 the other way, you win ♦K and first play ♥K. ♠K is removed from hand and you cash ♥Q and develop the 4th ♦ for 9 tricks.

[bucky]

This is a very nice problem. Two traps to avoid.