[erki_]

Scoring: IMP

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Contract: 6♠ by S

I played small ♠ to A and discovered 0-4 break
What's the best way to win that slam now?

1) ♦ finesse? A chance of 50%
2) Take A and K of ♣, go to dummy with ♦A and play ♣Q. If LHO ruffs, it's possible to overruff, ruff a ♥ to dummy and take the rest of spades. If LHO doesn't ruff your ♣Q, then contract is sure. A chance of ??%
3) Some other plan

[PMetsch]

I would unblock the ♣AK and play a ♥ to the queen. If LHO has ♥A he needs to duck and I have an extra entry to play ♣Q. If RHO takes ♥Q, he will probably play back a ♥, and I play a ♦ to the ace and ♣Q.

The extra entry might give me an option for a double squeeze or a ♦finesse , if RHO ruffs the ♣Q.

[erki_]

PMetsch, on Nov 29 2005, 02:37 PM, said:

I would unblock the ♣AK and play a ♥ to the queen. If LHO has ♥A he needs to duck and I have an extra entry to play ♣Q. If RHO takes ♥Q, he will probably play back a ♥, and I play a ♦ to the ace and ♣Q.

The extra entry might give me an option for a double squeeze or a ♦finesse , if RHO ruffs the ♣Q.

Sorry, forgot to mention that lead was ♥A followed by small ♥

[Fluffy]

♣AK, ♦A and ♣Q looks like the best line just requires RHO to have 3+♥ and 2+♣

[PMetsch]

erki_, on Nov 29 2005, 02:44 PM, said:

Sorry, forgot to mention that lead was ♥A followed by small ♥

Play a ♦ to the ace and ♣Q.If RHO does not ruff, discard ♥looser and take the ♠finesse. If RHO ruffs, then overruff and ruff a ♥ looser and take the ♠finesse. Only down if RHO has a doubleton ♥ and a doubleton ♣.

[inquiry]

♣AK, ♦ to ACE, spade 9... if covered, overruff ruff heart, claim.

When ♠9 wins, advance the ♣Q. If EAST ruffs, you got to hope the third round of hearts will hold up. Dont lead the ♣Q without first advancing the ♠9. After the ♣Q holds, hook in ♠ again. This loses if EAST is 4-2-5-2, but make if he is 4-3-4-2, 4-2-4-3, 4-2-3-4, 4-3-3-3, etc.

[erki_]

Scoring: IMP

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This was the full hand.
Bad news was that my (almost) excellent plan didn't work so 6S-1.
The other table didn't even consider playing slam and got 4S+1, so -11IMPs for nothing
And the irony is that simple diamond finesse would have worked.

[inquiry]

Did west not bid over your 1♠ fourth seat opening (or perhaps open the bidding). It seems like with five hearts to AJT, a spade void, and four diamonds to the King (not to mention JT of clubs) there would have been a clue in here somewhere that he had the stregnth. Can you provide the bidding to reach this slam?

I could imagine... P-P-P-1♠-X or P-P-P-1♠-2♥, or the like. A fair number of players here would actually open WEST's hand 1♥ (I have to admit, I would, treating West hand as a minimum ♥-♦ two suiter opener and bid in the first seat).

[erki_]

No, he didn't open and didn't even bid over my 1♣ opening (I play strong club system).
As I didn't play with a regular partner the bidding simply went 1♣-2♣-2♠-3♠-4NT(RKCB)-5♦(1KC)-6♠

[Gerben42]

Some unsorted comments:

I cannot imagine many people opening 1♥ with the West hand. You're looking at rule-of-18 as base value, then there are some upgrades but it's just not enough. But passing a strong ♣ suggests West was asleep during the auction

I prefer 1NT response to 1♣ over 2♣.

These things happen, bridge can be very unfair.

[inquiry]

Gerben42, on Nov 30 2005, 08:20 AM, said:

I cannot imagine many people opening 1♥ with the West hand. You're looking at rule-of-18 as base value, then there are some upgrades but it's just not enough.

Those who follow the suggestion of Zar Petkov will have no problems opening this hand. It has the "required" 26 Zar points (9 hcp, 3 control points, 14 distributional points). It even has good intermediates (T8 of hearts in long suit, Ten of clubs, 9 of diamonds) for the timid Zar followers.