[ahydra]

Cross-IMPs, nobody vul.

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Opps are playing 5-card spades, weak NT. The double may not be to everyone's liking with more quacks than your average duckpond, but ah well. You lead DK, 3, 7 (odd), A. Declarer returns the D5 and you win with the Q. What do you lead next? Declarer is not a particularly good player, if it matters.

ahydra

[ahydra]

No takers for this or my 5C hand, disappointing. If there's more info or a format change I can add to make the problems more appealing, please do let me know.

Partner had the South hand and switched to a top heart after the given start, no doubt trying to remove entries to the diamonds. This was not a success as declarer had ♠A98xx ♥A109x ♦Ax ♣Kx and the heart switch gave away the setting trick. The problem was whether to try attacking the entries or just play safe so as to not allow your QJ to be finessable.

Of course, even after a club switch declarer can make it legitimately by playing South for QJ of hearts. Spade to K, diamond ruffed, spade A, small heart and put in the 8 if South follows small. If South splits her honours then win and play more diamonds throwing hearts. If South ruffs she will be endplayed.

ahydra

[ggwhiz]

I would have led a round suit Quack at trick 1 believing that the weak 3♠ bid does not own the ♦A and if declarer had ♦AJ or AJx your opening lead could spell disaster.
.

[pescetom]

ahydra, on 2018-June-08, 16:19, said:

No takers for this or my 5C hand, disappointing. If there's more info or a format change I can add to make the problems more appealing, please do let me know.

Interesting and clear post, there was just a lot of noise to hide it.

I wouldn't have risked the diamond lead, maybe a spade.

[wank]

If declarer has the ace of hearts he can always make just by establishing diamonds. He just has to duck a trump before running them.

[kuhchung]

Your play problems are nice and appreciated. It's just easier respond to bidding problems because any idiot (such as me) with an opinion can chime in and feel smart about it

I also shifted to the big heart and thought it was fairly obvious

[HardVector]

All the leads stink. Don't break a new suit, pound another diamond. Either opener has the J and partner is ruffing, or partner has the J and opener is ruffing. Leading a Q at this point just helps the opponents.

By the way, you implied that the 7 played by partner is odd/even? That signaling method is for DISCARDS. This signal should show attitude (or count if that is your preference).

[yunling]

If declarer has ♥A, he can always preserve the ♥entry so ♥Q will not be a success. If partner holds ♥A then it won't matter.
But isn't declarer going to make this anyway?
♥ can be discarded on ♦.

[gszes]

good problem

Declarer has taken the stance that finding diamonds 33 is their best option and they have struck gold. This also means that ruffing a club(s) is a lower priority than a 33 dia split. This means it seems perfectly safe to switch to clubs though this hardly guarantees success in setting the contract.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

late, ... and I try to avoid play problems.

I would have switched to hears as well, hearts needs less than
clubs, we basically need the T of hearts, partner has at most 5-6HCP,
and find gold, if partner has the Ace.
Maybe with AKx in clubs declarere would have gone for the immediate
ruff, but ... I dont know, as I said, I try to avoid this.

The play may also indicate weak trumps, which he kind of has, but they
may even be weaker, be missing the Ace of spades.
3S was preemptive, but maybe promising 4+ support.

With kind regards
Marlowe