[kgr]

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Play 6♥
Lead ♠x (I don't know the exact lead, suppose that opps lead random small against slam)
This play problem was presented to me yesterday.
I don't know the bidding and the result, but I wonder what play gives the most chances.
- ♦ to the Q
- ♣ to the Q or to the T (after eliminating ♠)?

[dake50]

Didn't the discards on S:K+Q cement your decision?
I cash CA. Then S:KQ drop C:xx. Run CQ. Am I lucky?

[kgr]

dake50, on 2011-January-14, 07:10, said:

Didn't the discards on S:K+Q cement your decision?
I cash CA. Then S:KQ drop C:xx. Run CQ. Am I lucky?

Yes, it doesn't seem to work to eliminate S.
I'm surprised by your line, I really don't see how it can be better then playing to ♦Q or to ♣Q or T?
Note: Heart are 2-2 (and I don't know much of the rest of the hand)

[rhm]

T1-3: ♠ace, ♥ace (all follow), ♦ace
T4-5: ♠ KQ, discarding ♦queen, small
T6: ♦ ruffed high
T7: ♥ queen (all follow or the ♥ten dropped singleton on the first round. If not draw trumps and try your luck in the ♣ department)
T8: ♦ ruffed high if necessary.
If ♦ are 3-3 you are home, ♥ to the ♥9 and the fourth ♦ is good for a ♣ discard.

If West has 1 or 2 cards in ♦:
T9: ♣ to ten or queen

Now if ♥ are 2-2 and the finesse looses to West, he will have to return a ♣. Thus you have 75% chance in this case to make.
This may also work as a partial elimination if West drops the singleton ♥ ten.

Rainer Herrmann

[FrancesHinden]

I was thinking of rhm's line
I was also thinking of

SA
H to the queen
Diamond towards dummy
If LHO has the king, I make (unless he has 5 of them) now
If RHO wins the DK and plays, say, then I win the ace, king of spades discarding a diamond, diamond ruff.

That line makes with either diamonds 3-3 or the king onside (assuming hearts not 4-0)

I think it's slightly better than the above line if you ignore a possible 5-card diamond suit on your left. Including that must be close.

[rhm]

FrancesHinden, on 2011-January-14, 16:10, said:

I was thinking of rhm's line
I was also thinking of

SA
H to the queen
Diamond towards dummy
If LHO has the king, I make (unless he has 5 of them) now
If RHO wins the DK and plays, say, then I win the ace, king of spades discarding a diamond, diamond ruff.

That line makes with either diamonds 3-3 or the king onside (assuming hearts not 4-0)

I think it's slightly better than the above line if you ignore a possible 5-card diamond suit on your left. Including that must be close.

If I understand your line correctly, assuming the ♦ finesse fails but to be 3-3, how are you going to reach the fourth ♦ when ♥ are 3-1 and no singleton ♥ten?
It seems you trade the finesse in ♣ for the finesse in ♦, but do not have the end-play possibility my line has against West and risk a 5-1 break in ♦.

Rainer Herrmann