[The_Badger]

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South opens 1NT arrives in a 6♠ contract, no opposition bidding, ♦J lead, ♦3 from dummy, ♦2 from East taken by South's ♦Q .

Make the contract.

Additional info (after 2 replies): trumps break 3-1

[alok c]

Ruff a ♥, draw trumps in 2 rounds, ♣K, finesse ♣J, ♣A discard a ♦, ruff the last ♣, ♥A discard a ♦, ♥Q discard another ♦.Assumptions ♠ 2-2, ♥k & ♣Q with West, opening lead was from singleton.

[steve2005]

alok c, on 2017-September-01, 14:34, said:

Ruff a ♥, draw trumps in 2 rounds

and if trump break 3-1 or 4-0?

[gszes]

W/o the bidding (hint) it is impossible to guess if the dia lead is anything special. I will assume it was a natural lead given the circumstances sooooooooooooooooo
draw trumps (spade to K) (if they break 40 ruff a club before drawing trump) play the 2 top clubs (maybe the Q will fall) ending wherever and duck a diamond. Simple solution playing lho for JTx.

[The_Badger]

gszes, on 2017-September-02, 17:47, said:

W/o the bidding (hint) it is impossible to guess if the dia lead is anything special. I will assume it was a natural lead given the circumstances sooooooooooooooooo
draw trumps (spade to K) (if they break 40 ruff a club before drawing trump) play the 2 top clubs (maybe the Q will fall) ending wherever and duck a diamond. Simple solution playing lho for JTx.

Good try, but not quite right. This hand was taken from a book in my collection. The solution given is subtle, in my opinion.

[nige1]

The_Badger, on 2017-September-01, 08:48, said:

South opens 1NT arrives in a 6♠ contract, no opposition bidding, ♦J lead, ♦3 from dummy, ♦2 from East taken by South's ♦Q .
Make the contract.
Additional info (after 2 replies): trumps break 3-1

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Spoiler

Try : winning ♦Q. Cash ♣KA (No ♣Q). Ruff a ♣ (No ♣Q). Ruff a ♥. (Over-) ruff a ♣. Draw trumps with ♠AKQ. Exit in ♦, succeeding when

• RHO was dealt doubleton ♦A.
• LHO was dealt doubleton ♦JT.

[The_Badger]

nige1, on 2017-September-04, 06:03, said:

Spoiler

Try : winning ♦Q. Cash ♣KA. Ruff a ♣. Ruff a ♥. (Over-) ruff a ♣. Draw trumps with ♠AKQ. Exit in ♦, succeeding when

• RHO was dealt doubleton ♦A.
• LHO was dealt doubleton ♦JT.

Interesting line, Nigel, you're on the right track, but it's not the book solution to the problem. (Though it would be interesting to compare whether the book solution to the problem is statistically better than yours.)

Addendum: There is a chance of an overruff in the West hand, or for West to pitch a ♦ to avoid the throw-in on your line.

[The_Badger]

I better post the solution after five days on the forum.

The international who played this hand, drew trumps, cashed ♣AK, ran the ♣J as a ruffing finesse - wins, and then exited with a small♦ won by the ♦10 in West's hand. West was then forced to lead into the ♥AQ.

[nige1]

The_Badger, on 2017-September-04, 09:49, said:

Addendum: There is a chance of an overruff in the West hand, or for West to pitch a ♦ to avoid the throw-in on your line.

If ♣Q drops, either line works. My line normally needs LHO to have 4 ♣s. The book line normally requires LHO to have 3 ♣s without ♣Q.