[Hanoi5]

After 2NT-3♣-3♦-3NT, you see:

♠A9
♥652
♦QT632
♣J87

♠KQJ6
♥Q7
♦AJ
♣AQ932

You play 20-21 2NT opening, but I bet any other bidding would get you there (unless they intervene, but I won't spoil the fun). The ♥4 is led and you start sweating, but after calling for a small heart from dummy RHO plays the J. After winning the Q, how do you continue?

[mtvesuvius]

Well since this is posted here, we are supposed to hook the ♠9 (LHO won't put up the ten lol) and the ♦K is doubleton onside.

Anyway, I think I'd play for Tx♣ on my left, so a spade to dummy and the ♣J. Hooking the ♠9 is too big of a position to take IMO.

[Phil]

mtvesuvius, on 2011-March-08, 11:35, said:

Well since this is posted here, we are supposed to hook the ♠9 (LHO won't put up the ten lol) and the ♦K is doubleton onside.

Anyway, I think I'd play for Tx♣ on my left, so a spade to dummy and the ♣J. Hooking the ♠9 is too big of a position to take IMO.

I agree with the ♣J, but I don't think we necessarily need ♣Tx. Assuming the club is covered, run four spades. How many does LHO have?

This is a pretty cool hand by the way, and I have some definite ideas, but I would like to get some info first.

[gnasher]

I'd play a spade to dummy, a club to the queen, four rounds of spades, and a heart exit. That works as long as RHO has both minor kings, provided that I read the ending correctly.

I don't agree with leading ♣J, because it may leave the minor-suit guards in different hands. On the last heart, I'd have to bare one of my aces, and the defence would exit in that suit.

[whereagles]

I'll cash spades and let opps do the dirty work

[Phil]

gnasher, on 2011-March-08, 12:45, said:

I don't agree with leading ♣J, because it may leave the minor-suit guards in different hands. On the last heart, I'd have to bare one of my aces, and the defence would exit in that suit.

You'd have to bare one of your aces in this scenario too.

[MrAce]

LHO has ♥AKT43 and RHO has J98 if they lead 4th best.

gnasher, on 2011-March-08, 12:45, said:

I'd play a spade to dummy, a club to the queen, four rounds of spades, and a heart exit. That works as long as RHO has both minor kings, provided that I read the ending correctly.

If u are gonna play for both K to be onside, u dont need to read ending. Try this; (Coup De Trucker)

♠ to Ace, then ♦Q

-If not covered, ♣ finesse

-if covered, cash ♦J, cash remaining ♠s, and exit with ♥

Thats what i would do.

[kenrexford]

There is a SMALL read that can be made on this deal, perhaps.

If LHO has the spade 10, we assume that he would play it when you lead small toward dummy, to restrict entries to dummy to one. If this in fact happens, LHO is thinking hard about the hand and senses that need. This tends to imply that a club double-hook might be needed to bring in the suit. So, this might argue for winning the spade Ace and leading the club Jack, expecting a cover and win in hand. Then, cash out the spades before probably tossing out a heart, hoping to catch LHO forced to break clubs or diamonds for the second finesse.

Eh, an idea.

[gnasher]

Phil, on 2011-March-08, 17:00, said:

You'd have to bare one of your aces in this scenario too.

True. But as my other two cards will be winners, I won't care.

[gnasher]

MrAce, on 2011-March-08, 17:31, said:

If u are gonna play for both K to be onside, u dont need to read ending. Try this; (Coup De Trucker)

♠ to Ace, then ♦Q

-If not covered, ♣ finesse

-if covered, cash ♦J, cash remaining ♠s, and exit with ♥

Good point. My line is more fun though.

[Hanoi5]

Very nice insights, I think Adam's ♣J suggestion is good as well as the ♦Q suggestion. All fails miserably for LHO held:

♠T8xxx
♥AKTxx
♦xx
♣x

[Phil]

gnasher, on 2011-March-08, 18:24, said:

True. But as my other two cards will be winners, I won't care.

?

You are leaving ♦AJ ♣A9 in hand having to discard on the last heart. So I don't understand this comment.LHO can endplay us just the same.Nevertheless I think a club to the Q is stronger since because of reasons you state.

Timo's trucker coup is interesting but if I held AJx of diamonds -Id play the ♦T off the board, not the Q.

[MrAce]

Phil, on 2011-March-09, 00:20, said:

?

You are leaving ♦AJ ♣A9 in hand having to discard on the last heart. So I don't understand this comment.LHO can endplay us just the same.Nevertheless I think a club to the Q is stronger since because of reasons you state.

Timo's trucker coup is interesting but if I held AJx of diamonds -Id play the ♦T off the board, not the Q.

Phil..cmon..RHO holds 3 cards before you Andy said he is playing for both Kings onside. He made 1♥+1♣+4♠ and he will stiff the Ace whichever RHO holds doubleton and make 3 tricks for 9. Thats why he doesnt want to transfer the ♣ guard from RHO to LHO. But as he said this requires reading their original holdings at the end.

@Hanoi : So in original hand, we were making if we just took the first ♥ and send it back to the owner. After cashing 4♥ he has to exit, if exits with a minor, go dummy with ♠A and take the other finesse. If he exits with ♠ play 9 and perform finesses again, if he exits with ♠T A and unblock ♠ J from hand and finesses...

[gnasher]

Phil, on 2011-March-09, 00:20, said:

Timo's trucker coup is interesting but if I held AJx of diamonds -Id play the ♦T off the board, not the Q.

Since MrAce has been kind enough to explain my line, I'll explain his.

If RHO plays low on ♦Q, we take a club finesse.

If RHO covers ♦Q, we win, cash the spades, cash the jack of diamonds, and exit with a heart.

There's no deceptive element to this - it's just 100% as long as the kings are onside and spades are 4-3.

[Phil]

Yes, as long as we read the ending we are fine. I stand corrected. Nice hand!