[luis]

In a peaceful practice session I went down in a game I think I should have made....

Your hand:
AK862, K4, -, AKQT92

RHO You LHO Pd
2d x p 2h
p 3d p 3n
p 4c p 4h
p 4s p p
p

Do you agree with the bidding?

Now dummy comes

J54
QJT4
KT63
63
--------
AK862
K4
-
AKQT92

Lead: Diamond ace, expect bad breaks.
What is the safest plan for 10 tricks?
(Tip: Clubs are 5-0 offside, if you play a spade to the J the 9 appears on the left so RHO may have QT73)

[inquiry]

The DIAMOND ACE gave you an easy line to the goal. Bang the SPADE AK, then play on clubs. I don't think the defense can hold the position. A low spade at trick two has to be wrong, because if the hand is as you describe a Diamond back cooks you....

I was kibitizing, the on your line of low to the SPADE JACK, your opponent paniced and cashed the heart ACE instead of continuing diamonds. This allowed you to unblock hearts and make.... except, you allowed them to ruff a high club and exit a spade.

Winning line, i think is ruff Diamond, cash AK of spades, play on clubs. But then I get to play double dummy as I had plenty of time to study all four hands while you struggled seeing on yours and dummy.

Ben

[luis]

If I cash the SA and SK then East can ruff the first club, cash the sQ and then exit with a diamond eventually I must lose the club J to my LHO for down 1, they only have to duck once in hearts and play a diamond when in with the hA.

I played a low spade to the J because I thought that had spades been 4-1 my LHO was more likely to hold 4 since the other guy preempted, I guess that is ok with the odds.
I considered playing sA sK bu then if LHO has QTxx I can lose 2 spades a heart and a club for down 1.
Argh.....

[Free]

Why not play SA followed by small S to the Jack? RHO might have single S so you defend yourself against that situation, and you can catch a stiff lady... That's according to me the safest play of trumps.

[inquiry]

Quote

If I cash the SA and SK then East can ruff the first club, cash the sQ and then exit with a diamond eventually I must lose the club J to my LHO for down 1, they only have to duck once in hearts and play a diamond when in with the hA.

I played a low spade to the J because I thought that had spades been 4-1 my LHO was more likely to hold 4 since the other guy preempted, I guess that is ok with the odds.
I considered playing sA sK bu then if LHO has QTxx I can lose 2 spades a heart and a club for down 1.
Argh.....

Not really... cash two spades, and let him ruff a club, play teh spade QUEEN... and return a diamond... now you are in complete control....on a diamond back you ruff... cash two clubs then play on hearts... you win 1D, 3H, 2C, 4S... that comes to ten tricks

ben

[rtewari]

This will work only if RHO has the heart Ace as if LHO has the heart ace, he can cash a club winner as well.

I think the right play (from basic principles) is to go for your side suit before playing trumps more than what can be played safely. Cash just 1 round for spade and play a high club. If RHO ruffs, then you can later draw another trump and ruff out your LHO's club Jack without losing control of the hand.

[inquiry]

Quote

This will work only if RHO has the heart Ace as if LHO has the heart ace, he can cash a club winner as well.

I think the right play (from basic principles) is to go for your side suit before playing trumps more than what can be played safely. Cash just 1 round for spade and play a high club. If RHO ruffs, then you can later draw another trump and ruff out your LHO's club Jack without losing control of the hand.

Right you are.. SPADE ACE and then CLUB ACE is better than spade AK then play on clubs. I have to admit the thought of 2D bidder not having heart ACE didn't occur to me since they are RED and we are white... and it means he bid 2D won with sometihing like 4 or 5 points. But, just ne round of high spades does cater to the possibility that he did open on such total junk.

Ben