[bestguru]

Scoring: IMP

opening lead 5d

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bidding went 1♦ p p 1♥ p 3♥

I took the A♦ at trick one. I think this was a good play. I know east isn't likely to have the Q, but taking the finesse now doesn't buy me anything and risks opps getting their spades.


Did I miss something here?

[inquiry]

bestguru, on Dec 1 2004, 11:52 PM, said:

Scoring: IMP

opening lead 5d

---

bidding went 1♦ p p 1♥ p 3♥

I took the A♦ at trick one.  I think this was a good play.  I know east isn't likely to have the Q, but taking the finesse now doesn't buy me anything and risks opps getting their spades. 

Did I miss something here?

You missed that you needed to rotate the hands with linconverter.. .. I think south would not open 1♦....
this is the hand you wnated to post...

Scoring: IMP


West North East South
 1♦    Pass  Pass  1♥
 Pass  3♥    Pass  Pass
 Pass  

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You may have missed the fact that West did not lead a top spade. With AK of spades, a spade lead versus a diamond is probably more attractive. If East has ace of spades or king of spades, you know where king of hearts is.

On the other hand, there is no need to risk a low diamond. If this loses to a sington queen you will have a totally rotten day, when you lose 1♦, 2♠, 1♣ and a ♥. Setting up one diamond does little good for you. At matchpoints, playing low makes a lot of sense. As you might make five if you catch a singleton heart king, by setting up a long diamond trick.

[Free]

After Ben's post this thread has sense. I didn't see a ♦A,...

As he also said, there's no need in risking a ♦ loser. If you count your losers, you only have 4 at most: 1♣, 2♠ and 1♥. Your 3rd ♠ can easily be ruffed in dummy (even if trumps are 4-1), so in imps just make your contract.

[bestguru]

Thanks Ben, that's what I meant. Yes, I did miss the signifigance of the lead. I did however use the bidding to assume West had the K♥ and lead low to my A for 5.

Thanks Free.