[Fluffy]

♠K876
♥K108
♦K82
♣KJ9


♠AJ52
♥AQ9765
♦74
♣10


1♥-2♣!
2♥-4♥


lead is ♠3 to ♠Q

[mikeh]

I'd draw trump, starting with the K to cater to the unlikely 0=4 break.

If trump are 2-2, then I advance the club 10.

I am cold if LHO rises, but he won't.

If I sense or just guess the A is onside, I pop the K. Otherwise, I duck.

Assume that RHO wins cheaply whichever card I play from dummy. Assume he returns a spade. If both follow, I am cold and playing for an overtrick, so assume LHO shows out.

I win in dummy and advance another club, intending to pitch a diamond...I can in fact pitch a diamond whether it is covered or not although I would ruff if covered, in order to play for an overtrick.

I will maybe lose 2 clubs and a diamond, but my last spade goes away on the good club in dummy.

However, this line requires that I have enough entries to enjoy the last club, and I need a late trump entry, so 2-2 seems necessary. I might adopt the same line if the heart J appears at trick 2 on my left, since few players would be good enough to falsecard with Jx(x) after leading a stiff spade, but I'm not sure I buy the idea that he'd lead a stiff spade with 1=1 majors.

If trump are not 2-2, and assuming not 4=0 (such that I have a loser in trump...when I'd need extra luck), I pull trump and cash the top spades, ending in hand. Assuming 1=4 spades, I exit the last spade. I am cold if RHO holds the club A. I also make if LHO holds both minor Aces.

Edit: duh...of course, the play in trump is to start with a top honour from hand: sorry about that. I maintain the rest of my post, and will try to cut down on multi-tasking...I'm obviously not very good at it

[Lord Molyb]

I will draw all the trumps beginning with the Q, catering to any 4-0 break, and run the ♣10. RHO is endplayed. If he returns a club, I can ruff and cross to the ♠K in dummy to discard my diamond on the ♣K, losing one trick in each non-trump suit. If he returns a diamond I only lose 1 diamond trick. If he returns a low spade, I let it run to the K8, and if LHO shows out I can win cheaply. If LHO plays a spade I'm cold anyway. If he returns the 10 of spades I win the king, and if LHO shows out I run the ♠8.

Edit: never mind I forgot he can play the ♣queen. The above line wins when RHO has the ♣A.
this is really complicated...
I believe mikeh's line is right, upon further reflection.

[kgr]

Always interesting to read your play analysis, but I've a question:

mikeh, on 2013-March-01, 13:43, said:

I'd draw trump, starting with the K to cater to the unlikely 0=4 break.

Why don't you start with ♥Q to protect against any 4-0 break? Is it because you are convinced that LHO started with single ♠?

[lesh]

Lord Molyb, on 2013-March-01, 13:44, said:

I will draw all the trumps beginning with the Q, catering to any 4-0 break, and run the ♣10. RHO is endplayed. If he returns a club, I can ruff and cross to the ♠K in dummy to discard my diamond on the ♣K, losing one trick in each non-trump suit. If he returns a diamond I only lose 1 diamond trick. If he returns a low spade, I let it run to the K8, and if LHO shows out I can win cheaply. If LHO plays a spade I'm cold anyway. If he returns the 10 of spades I win the king, and if LHO shows out I run the ♠8.

Edit: never mind I forgot he can play the ♣queen. The above line wins when RHO has the ♣A.
If he has the queen... (writing in)

The above line wins in most cases.

If he returns ♣ you discard a ♦ - you are going to lose 2♣ and 1♦.

When I play trumps I would play 10♥ if LHO shows out cash trumps and duck a ♣ - the same end play.

If LHO has 4♥ then it becomes interesting and I suppose you will need A♦ in place because if spades are 4-1 with RHO and A♦ in him as well you are down.

Anyway I will play a club to the 10 and then expass the ♣ honour if spades are 4-1 Might consider a squeez as well depending on how it turns out

[PhilKing]

lesh, on 2013-March-01, 14:07, said:

The above line wins in most cases.

If he returns ♣ you discard a ♦ - you are going to lose 2♣ and 1♦.

When I play trumps I would play 10♥ if LHO shows out cash trumps and duck a ♣ - the same end play.

If LHO has 4♥ then it becomes interesting and I suppose you will need A♦ in place because if spades are 4-1 with RHO and A♦ in him as well you are down.

Anyway I will play a club to the 10 and then expass the ♣ honour if spades are 4-1 Might consider a squeez as well depending on how it turns out

Thank you. My eyes can stop bleeding now.