[MrAce]

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Team Match, I dunno what 3♣ meant in their bidding but doesnt matter.

Lead is ♥Q, whats your plan ?

[pooltuna]

1. A♥
2. A♦
3. Q♣
4. K♥
5. finesse J♣

[655321]

Seems like we mostly need South not to have HJ9x of spades and switch to a top spade.

A possible line is to take the ♥Q at face value, win the ♥K, finesse hearts, and play clubs from the top, hoping for 3 hearts, 1 diamond and 5 clubs.

Another possibility is to win the ♥A in dummy, cash the ♦A, and play the ♣Q (to keep an entry in dummy), hoping for 2 hearts, 2 diamonds and 5 clubs. If the ♣Q wins, cross to the ♥K, cash the diamond, and guess the clubs (Kxx opposite xx, or xxx opposite Kx - I think Brad Moss ducked a doubleton King in a similar position against Weinstein-Levin a while ago - and got it dropped!). North likely has a spade honor though, and ducking from Kx is hard, so playing South for Kxx is normal here.

Not cashing the ♦A in line 2 - win ♥A then play clubs from the top - means you don't need to worry about entries to dummy or 4-1 clubs, and makes when South has the ♥J, but it doesn't work when South led from Qx (unless it is Q9) because he gets out a heart while the diamonds are blocked.

First line needs the heart lead to be from QJ, the second line needs South not to have Kxxx clubs.
I find it difficult to choose between two lowish percentage alternatives, that South led ♥Q without the Jack (play line 2) or that South has Kxxx clubs, opened 1♦ (4+), led a heart from QJ(x), and North didn't bid 1♠ (play line 1).
I think both lines will usually work. Maybe on the auction South might be likely to try an unusual heart lead, so playing line 2 and making unless South also has Kxxx club (or North does very well with Kx of clubs) is best.

[MrAce]

655321, on 2011-January-13, 21:34, said:

Not cashing the ♦A in line 2 - win ♥A then play clubs from the top - means you don't need to worry about entries to dummy or 4-1 clubs, and makes when South has the ♥J, but it doesn't work when South led from Qx (unless it is Q9) because he gets out a heart while the diamonds are blocked.

How will this work ? if N takes ♣K and play a ♥ ? Or if South wins ♣ K and after 2 rounds of ♠ N turns a ♥ ? If u duck u give 3♠+1♣+1♥, if u dont duck u have no entry for ♦K

[655321]

MrAce, on 2011-January-13, 22:54, said:

655321, on 2011-January-13, 21:34, said:

Not cashing the ♦A in line 2 - win ♥A then play clubs from the top - means you don't need to worry about entries to dummy or 4-1 clubs, and makes when South has the ♥J, but it doesn't work when South led from Qx (unless it is Q9) because he gets out a heart while the diamonds are blocked.

How will this work ? if N takes ♣K and play a ♥ ? Or if South wins ♣ K and after 2 rounds of ♠ N turns a ♥ ? If u duck u give 3♠+1♣+1♥, if u dont duck u have no entry for ♦K

It doesn't work, I had hoped it was clearer that that paragraph was just a thought, part of a discussion, not one of my main two lines. Anyway, as I said I think it likely North has a top Spade and therefore not the ♣K, so the first objection you mention wasn't so important.

[rduran1216]

♥K

♥10

♣A

♣Q

if South has Kx of clubs and AJ9x spades I screwed up, but at least he has to choose which K his partner has

If you'd rather cater to this holding pooltuna's line looks optimal

[655321]

rduran1216, on 2011-January-13, 23:07, said:

if South has Kx of clubs and AJ9x spades I screwed up, but at least he has to choose which K his partner has

If you'd rather cater to this holding pooltuna's line looks optimal

If they can cash 4 spade tricks they can do it after either line.

[MrAce]

655321, on 2011-January-13, 23:02, said:

It doesn't work, I had hoped it was clearer that that paragraph was just a thought, part of a discussion, not one of my main two lines. Anyway, as I said I think it likely North has a top Spade and therefore not the ♣K, so the first objection you mention wasn't so important.

Ok, i thought u were saying that it works when South has ♥ J , which it still doesn't. No need for a Qx lead for this line to fail.

[rduran1216]

655321, on 2011-January-13, 23:51, said:

If they can cash 4 spade tricks they can do it after either line.

2 hearts 1 diamonds and 6 clubs if Kx is with south make 9

[655321]

rduran1216, on 2011-January-14, 00:18, said:

2 hearts 1 diamonds and 6 clubs if Kx is with south make 9

No, read pooltuna's post again.

[rduran1216]

655321, on 2011-January-14, 00:26, said:

No, read pooltuna's post again.

oh, well either the defense is getting 4 spades or not

If you think they are, play S for Kx clubs as thats ur only hope

If not, hook the heart and DONT unblock diamonds before cashing A of clubs and then Q

[dake50]

A A A CQ.

[gnasher]

It seems very unlikely to me that ♥Q is from Qx. I can't imagine any hand for South where that lead looks sensible.

If South has three hearts, he can't have both the guarded club king and four spades. I'd start by winning in hand and taking a club finesse. If that works, cash ♣A (king not dropping), ♦A, club. If South started with three clubs, he has to give me my ninth trick one way or another. If South was something like 2344 and exits with his last club (either before or after cashing two spades), I may be able to endplay him.

If North has ♣K, I still have the chance that South is 2452 and endplayable.