[pclayton]

Hand from the Tuesday's GNT:

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You are in 4♠ with no opponents bidding. This wasn't the lead at either table, but the lead should be a small club.

I know its a complicated hand, but give me your line for the first few tricks.

[whereagles]

Hum.. my feeling says this:

Take club in hand, finesse heart... (can't escape that finesse)
1. If it wins I'm in good shape.
2. If it loses take club return, try and duck a spade to EAST.

2.1 If East takes spade, I'm still in good shape.
2.2 If West takes spade and plays a diamond: now I have to decide whether to...

2.2.1 win diamond ace, cash spade ace and try to run 3 hearts, OR..
2.2.2 finesse diamond and hope it holds.

Line 2.2.1 wins with hearts 3-3 or 4-2 with 4 on the long spade side (ruff a club good to reenter dummy for last diam discard). Line 2.2.1 wins with diam finesse on.

[Free]

It's all about the ♠s, you probably need a safetyplay for 1 loser, but you might get away with 2 losers if you can use your ♥s before your ♦ stop is gone, or if one of the finesses work. I think I'll just play ♥J, keep an extra entry in dummy and try to play ♠s as good as possible.

[Flame]

A club, A spade J heart.
The Q of club could be needed later for entries.
There are two lines now, one is to play another trump hoping east will win, the other which i think is better is not to draw a trump and hope the player with the shorter heart will have 3 spades.(or hearts are 3-3)

[cnszsun]

I will win first trick in hand, then play a ♠ to dummy's 7. If East win, ♦ can not be attacked, so you have good chance to setup ♥ and avoid ♦ losers. If West win and return a ♦, you can finesse, ruff the 3rd ♦ loser and hope one of the red king is onside.

[pclayton]

As it turned out BOTH red kings were onside, but KQTx of trump were offside. One table made and one table mismanaged the play. The two opening leaders (I was one) led a heart feigning a ruff to try to make 3 trump tricks.

I think I like a heart to the Q; after unblocking the Q♣. If it loses, there's an easy entry back to your hand, plus you leave the dangerous hand off lead. If RHO leads a trump, you can duck, which may solve a problem in that suit.

If the Q♥ wins, the hand sort of plays itself: A♥, ruff heart, A♣ (pitch ♦), hook diamond, etc..

[shanbari]

there's one thing i need add on here, .
J7x
A98xx

usually play low from south, and finesse 7 at dummy. succeed while LHO QT, KT, Tx, and KQTx



shan