[Hilver]

Teams
N/ NS vulnerable

North:
♠ A 10 7 5 2
♥ A K 8 3
♦ K Q 8
♣ 3

South:
♠ Q 8 6 3 4
♥ Q 4 2
♦ 7 6 2
♣ J 4

The bidding:
West North East South
- 1♣* 2♣ pass
3♣ dbl pass 4♠all pass

1♣ = Big Club, 16+
2♣ and 3C are natural

The first trick:
West North East South
♣2 ♣6 ♣K ♣4

East returns the 7 of hearts.

What will be your line of play?
(Edit: small lead is positive, an honnour)

Thx

Jan

This post has been edited by Hilver: 2013-January-19, 04:47

[billw55]

14 cards opposite 12.

edit: OP has since been fixed.

This post has been edited by billw55: 2013-January-19, 11:48

[Hilver]

billw55, on 2013-January-18, 10:07, said:

14 cards opposite 12.

Thanks for Your remark.
I edited my posting

Jan

[gnasher]

It would be helpful to know what leads they play.

There is a chance of an elimination if RHO has ♠Kx and ♦Ax, or any hand with a singleton ace of diamonds. Win ♥K and play ♠A.

If trumps break but the king doesn't fall, play a heart to the queen, ruff a club, and play ♥A. If they don't break, ruff the last heart in hand and exit with a spade. That works when RHO is something like 2227 - the best he can do is exit with a low diamond, but we cross in trumps and lead a diamond to dummy's remaining honour.

If spades are 0=3, play a second spade, win the return, draw the last trump, ruff a club, and cash the top hearts ending in hand. Then play a diamond. That works when RHO is 1=2, 2=1 or 2=2 in the red suits. Note that we can't afford to ruff the fourth heart immediately, because we will run out of trumps and go down when ♦A is onside.

I can't see a way to cater for East's 3415, but it seems unlikely on the bidding anyway.


Edit: This fails when their shapes are 2164=1516 - LHO ruffs the second heart and plays a diamond to the king and ace, then RHO exits with a club. Against that layout, I have to win the first heart in hand and ruff a club immediately. Maybe I should ask about their leads and defence to 1♣.

This post has been edited by gnasher: 2013-January-19, 04:19

[Hilver]

gnasher, on 2013-January-19, 04:14, said:

It would be helpful to know what leads they play.

The lead of tthe deuce of clubs indicates an honnour.

Jan

[gnasher]

Hilver, on 2013-January-19, 04:49, said:

The lead of tthe deuce of clubs indicates an honnour.

Jan

So he can have Hxx, Hxxx or Hxxxx ?

[Hilver]

gnasher, on 2013-January-19, 06:09, said:

So he can have Hxx, Hxxx or Hxxxx ?

No, East did already win the first trick by playing the King of clubs.
West playing the ♣K indicates West holding the Queen of clubs.

Jan

[gnasher]

Hilver, on 2013-January-19, 10:25, said:

No, East did already win the first trick by playing the King of clubs.
West playing the ♣K indicates West holding the Queen of clubs.

Jan

I think we're having language difficulties. By "H" I meant "honour".

What I want to know is, can West have any of 3, 4, or 5 cards?

[Hilver]

gnasher, on 2013-January-19, 13:26, said:

I think we're having language difficulties. By "H" I meant "honour".

What I want to know is, can West have any of 3, 4, or 5 cards?

Yes, he can.

Jan