I was given this hand a few days ago because it's a great hand for those learning declarer play. There's some important things to deduce here but all of them should be within reach of most players.
You land in 4♥ and this is what it looks like:
♠
Q J
♥
J T 6
♦
A J T 9 6
♣
T 6 5
♠
A 6 3
♥
K Q 8 7 4 3 2
♦
K 7 5
♣
-
East
South
West
North
Pass
1♥
Pass
1NT
2♣
2♥
3♣
3♥
Pass
4♥
Pass
Pass
Pass
The play begins: 3♣ to the Ace ruffed in hand. Heart to the 9, Jack and Ace. 4 of spades returned.
With hearts breaking 2-1, there are only three possible losers at worst : heart, spade and a diamond. The risk of course is losing to the spade finesse ( West taking his king only to see a spade return ruffed by East). Extremely, unlikely since this gives West seven spades..... which surely he would bid ahead of his clubs ? If West does have the spade King there is no suit he can lead back which could harm you. And if the diamonds are guessed right, there are 11 tricks for the taking. If the spade trick is taken in dummy, I'm cashing another heart, and coming over to the diamond king to finesse against West.If the finesse works, and diamonds behave nicely, I'm now looking at 12 tricks (6H,2S,4D ). For some reason I'm keen on letting the spade run. Rising with the Ace and pinning hopes on bringing in all the diamonds ( pitching away two losing spades )would only be done if (a) I had a nose for sniffing out the queen, or (b) there was an urgent need for a top.....as this line of play also brings in 12 tricks. So yes it is a tough call. Yours HBJ
With hearts breaking 2-1, there are only three possible losers at worst : heart, spade and a diamond.
ReplyDeleteThe risk of course is losing to the spade finesse ( West taking his king only to see a spade return ruffed by East). Extremely, unlikely since this gives West seven spades..... which surely he would bid ahead of his clubs ?
If West does have the spade King there is no suit he can lead back which could harm you. And if the diamonds are guessed right, there are 11 tricks for the taking.
If the spade trick is taken in dummy, I'm cashing another heart, and coming over to the diamond king to finesse against West.If the finesse works, and diamonds behave nicely, I'm now looking at 12 tricks (6H,2S,4D ).
For some reason I'm keen on letting the spade run. Rising with the Ace and pinning hopes on bringing in all the diamonds ( pitching away two losing spades )would only be done if (a) I had a nose for sniffing out the queen, or (b) there was an urgent need for a top.....as this line of play also brings in 12 tricks.
So yes it is a tough call. Yours HBJ