[PeterE]

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Declarer, South, plays in 7NT on a spade lead. Overtaking the ♠K with his Ace he puts down is cards, saying "all mine." TD!
The TD is directing the first national league; all players are of (very) high standard - although some of them cannot count

Your decision, please.

[jallerton]

This hand (with the cards slightly changed) has already been discussed on this thread started by Gerben.

[ahydra]

Depends on whether you think playing HA first in hearts is "careless for the class of player involved". Cashing the K first picks up 4 tricks if W holds Jxxx(x) (A next) or if E holds all 5 (10 next). If I was a TD I'd rule it one down since declarer might just blindly cash the Ace, and I'd do the same even at the highest levels to encourage people to claim accurately But I would have some sympathy with a TD who thought that the safe play in hearts was automatic and gave declarer 13 tricks.

ahydra

[blackshoe]

Quote

Law 70E1: The director shall not accept from claimer any unstated line of play the success of which depends upon finding one opponent rather than the other with a particular card, unless an opponent failed to follow to the suit of that card before the claim was made, or would subsequently fail to follow to that suit on any normal line of play or unless failure to adopt that line of play would be irrational.

Down 1.

[mjj29]

blackshoe, on 2011-April-01, 14:24, said:

Down 1.

Only if you assume that the obvious saftey play in hearts is not 'normal' (after which one of the defenders does show out and declarer is allowed to pick up the jack). After all, I think even I would manage to find it and this is meant to be the top league...

Not that I have all that much sympathy for declarer.

Matt

[blackshoe]

It's not a question of "assume", it's a question of judgment. And of what "any normal line of play" means. Particularly what "any" means.

[bluejak]

mjj29, on 2011-April-01, 15:55, said:

Only if you assume that the obvious saftey play in hearts is not 'normal' (after which one of the defenders does show out and declarer is allowed to pick up the jack). After all, I think even I would manage to find it and this is meant to be the top league...

Errr - which "obvious" safety play?

[lamford]

bluejak, on 2011-April-01, 17:45, said:

Errr - which "obvious" safety play?

Peeking to see who has the jack, and cashing the appropriate top honours.

[campboy]

bluejak, on 2011-April-01, 17:45, said:

Errr - which "obvious" safety play?

Trying to lose a heart immediately, while you still have tops in every suit and an entry to the spades, as a safety play against going lots off if you later forget that the fourth round of hearts isn't good? Unfortunately dummy's pips are too good and you will accidentally make your contract now