[bridgeboy]

Hi all,

Getting late here so might as well post it and get answer tomorrow morning

How do you play this suit at Notrumps

432


Q1085

Given you only have 2 entries to dummy, how do you play if you need

(i) 2 tricks
(ii) max no. of tricks

Any program for suit combination that takes into account the number of entries you have?

Thanks all

[helium]

i would play small to 10, and small to Q next time in both

[Free]

I have a little program, which tells me the following:

2 tricks: 22.5466%
1 trick : 75.8385%

Line: play small to the lowest card in south covering RHO's card. So start with low to the 8 (or the 10 when RHO plays 9, or the Q when RHO plays the J), and keep finessing as low as possible.

[1eyedjack]

Free, on Aug 25 2004, 10:14 AM, said:

I have a little program, which tells me the following:

2 tricks: 22.5466%
1 trick : 75.8385%

Line: play small to the lowest card in south covering RHO's card. So start with low to the 8 (or the 10 when RHO plays 9, or the Q when RHO plays the J), and keep finessing as low as possible.

It is possible that this line may require 3 entries in order to maximise your chances. You may be right, but I recognise that entry limitations could have an effect, and I also have seen these computer programs, and they do not generally take this into account.

[laughter]

A rough calculation comparing 2 lines (lead low to 8 or lead low to 10):

Assuming 3-3 breaks (20 combinations, 35.5% chances):
Lead low and cover RHO works in the following cases:
a) Hxx (left) HJ9 (right) (2 combinations)
AKx (left) J9x (right) (2 combinatins)

Lead low to 10 works in a) but fails in b. It also works when:
c) H9x (left) HJx (right) (4 combinations)
Ah! I almost forget to include d) 9xx (left) AKJ (right). Of coz, anyone can pick this up.
Leading low to 10 works for 2 more 3-3 combinations.

Assuming 4-2 breaks (30 combinations, 48 % chances):
Lead low and cover RHO works when:
a) Hx (left) HJ9x (right) (4 combinations)
Oops! You have only 2 entries and can not lead toward your hand thrice. The entry restriction makes you unable to pick this one up. You can just pick up:
xx (left) AKJ9(right) (1 combination)
Not very good.

Lead low to 10 works in b plus:
c) H9 (left) HJxx (right) (2 combinations)
Oops! wrong again. RHO holds HJ76 and you need to lead from dummy a third time to neutralize the power of his spot. You can't pick this one up.
Two lines works equally when the suit is 4-2.

I guess it is now clear that leading low to 10 works better (just ignore those 5-1/6-0 as you probably can't pick them up with only 2 entries).

What does all these analysis prove?
It prove that:
a) I am poor at counting combinations and permutations.
due to entry restriction, you can't deal with 4-2 break effectively.

Since you can't deal with 4-2 breaks, you must concentrate on 3-3 and leading low to 10 stands out a mile when you a) want to take 2 tricks OR want to maximize your tricks.

[pclayton]

laughter, on Aug 30 2004, 02:01 AM, said:

A rough calculation comparing 2 lines (lead low to 8 or lead low to 10):

Assuming 3-3 breaks (20 combinations, 35.5% chances):
Lead low and cover RHO works in the following cases:
a) Hxx (left)  HJ9 (right) (2 combinations)
AKx (left)  J9x (right) (2 combinatins)

Lead low to 10 works in a) but fails in b. It also works when:
c) H9x (left) HJx (right) (4 combinations)
Ah! I almost forget to include d) 9xx (left) AKJ (right). Of coz, anyone can pick this up.
Leading low to 10 works for 2 more 3-3 combinations.

Assuming 4-2 breaks (30 combinations, 48 % chances):
Lead low and cover RHO works when:
a) Hx (left) HJ9x (right)  (4 combinations)
Oops! You have only 2 entries and can not lead toward your hand thrice. The entry restriction makes you unable to pick this one up. You can just pick up:
xx (left)  AKJ9(right) (1 combination)
Not very good.

Lead low to 10 works in b plus:
c) H9 (left)  HJxx (right) (2 combinations)
Oops! wrong again. RHO holds HJ76 and you need to lead from dummy a third time to neutralize the power of his spot. You can't pick this one up.
Two lines works equally when the suit is 4-2.

I guess it is now clear that leading low to 10 works better (just ignore those 5-1/6-0 as you probably can't pick them up with only 2 entries).

What does all these analysis prove?
It prove that:
a) I am poor at counting combinations and permutations.
due to entry restriction, you can't deal with 4-2 break effectively.

Since you can't deal with 4-2 breaks, you must concentrate on 3-3 and leading low to 10 stands out a mile when you a) want to take 2 tricks OR want to maximize your tricks.

Laughter - I'm glad you read the rules of the site. As the new poster, you are required to provide a minimum of 20 detailed analyses of suit combos or determining the correct % play.

Your probation period ends when you submit the 20 hands or you get to 100 posts.

Enjoy the site.