[bravejason]

Is there a standard technique for dealing with weak side suits with both declarer and dummy have the same such suit, particularly when the suits are not short? Here's an example deal:

Dealer:
S-9832
H-AK983
D-KJ
C-K4

Dummy:
S-J754
H-QT74
D-A7
C-A93


Is there any standard approach to try to avoid losing three spades?

[MrAce]

bravejason, on 2015-July-12, 18:35, said:

Is there a standard technique for dealing with weak side suits with both declarer and dummy have the same such suit, particularly when the suits are not short? Here's an example deal:

Dealer:
S-9832
H-AK983
D-KJ
C-K4

Dummy:
S-J754
H-QT74
D-A7
C-A93


Is there any standard approach to try to avoid losing three spades?

Yes

Clear trumps, eliminate short suits* and play a spade towards J. If one jumps from KQTx AQTx AKTx he will toss to his pd's stiff A or K, now ruff the minor suit they exit and play spades towards J98 hook.

* Eliminating side suits in a suit contract means, you clear them from your hand and dummy so when opps hold the hand they do not have a safe exit. Whatever they play will be ruff and sluff which allows you to ruff from 1 hand and discard from the other. Or they simply have to play the suit you are willing them to play, towards your hook(s)

[iandayre]

Mr. Ace's suggestion is completely correct. In truth what you are trying to avoid is losing 4 tricks in Spades. See what happens if you just draw trump and play Spades without eliminating the side suits, and your LHO has a singleton A, K, or Q of Spades.

[gszes]

You can pull trumps but do not eliminate the side suits. The main idea is to lead toward your hand twice hoping rho began with AKx and cannot resist following with the AK the first two rounds. If you eliminate the side suits first rho has a vastly superior idea of what you have in your hand and will be much more inclined to play low. The strip and end play may save you from losing 4 spades (iandyre) but it will not help you avoid 3 spade losers since the "endplayed" opp can always give you a ruff and sluff and if you started with 3 spade losers you will finish with 3 spade losers.

[Phil]

Against competent opponents its definitely correct to eliminate the side suits, even though they are getting a good count on your hand.

You might have FOUR spade losers in some layouts - KQTx/A, AQTx/K, etc.., and a ruff/sluff lets this in.

edit: I see Iandyre said the same thing above.