[Echognome]

Scoring: IMP

2♠ - (3♦) - 4♠ - All Pass

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You open 2♠ showing exactly 5 spades, 4+ clubs and around 11-15 points.

The opening lead is a small spade which goes to the 9 and 10 you win the J.

Plan the play.

[cnszsun]

You have to setup ♣ to make this contract, best chance is to play someone with Axx, then you duck a small ♣, later ruff two ♣s.
The problem is will you duck ♣ now or cash trump ace first.
If you duck ♣ first, you need East has ♦ void, but can deal with East has 2 or 3 trumps.
If you cash trump Ace first, you need trump 2-2, but don't care about ♦ distribution.
I'm not sure which layout is more possible.

[mikeh]

I spent more time on this than would be reasonable at the table, and have not found any line that is a favourite to make, and the analysis becomes complex depending on the defence adopted.

I would start with the ♣K to avoid immediate death should RHO be allowed to win an early trick and lead a ♦ through.

If LHO can exit a ♠, compressing my trump winners to 7 (only 2 ruffs available), I do not believe that I have any real hope. A defensive error is possible: ruff a ♣, ♦ to the 9, LHO wins and exits a ♥ from H10x or KQx (I'd guess the latter if he exited K, and the former if he exited low). Ruff in hand and lead the ♦K, smothering RHO's honour. If LHO won, he'd create an extra entry to dummy to establish the ♥, while if he ducked, I'd ruff a ♣ and cash the ♥, pitching my ♦, ruff a red card to hand and concede a ♣.

But if he cashes his second ♦ after winning the first and/or exits a ♣, I simply run out of tricks.

If he has a stiff trump, and therefore must lead something else at trick 3, once again most defences prevail.

If he leads a ♣, however, we ruff in dummy, cash the ♥A pitching a ♦ and lead low to the 9: playing RHO to hold HX where H = Q or J.

Once again the play depends on the defence, but we can often generate a very pretty end position.

If he leads a ♥, we have to hope for a miracle and that we also guess the miracle that actually exists. There is no room to analyse all the variations.

I would be disappointed but not surprised to see that I have missed an easy line

[Echognome]

If it helps, the contract is makeable. LHO wins the ♣A and plays a small heart. You of course played the ♣K at trick 2, which is the key play.

Since not many takers on this (thank you those that did), a big hint is that West is 1-3-5-4. You can infer a bit of this from the bidding and the early play as (1) he did not make a takeout double and (2) he didn't give his partner a diamond ruff either on the opening lead or when he got in with the ♣A. He also would have returned a trump at trick 2 if he could sinking the ship.

Can you make it now?

[Trpltrbl]

Echognome, on Oct 24 2005, 08:10 PM, said:

If it helps, the contract is makeable. LHO wins the ♣A and plays a small heart. You of course played the ♣K at trick 2, which is the key play.

Since not many takers on this (thank you those that did), a big hint is that West is 1-3-5-4. You can infer a bit of this from the bidding and the early play as (1) he did not make a takeout double and (2) he didn't give his partner a diamond ruff either on the opening lead or when he got in with the ♣A. He also would have returned a trump at trick 2 if he could sinking the ship.

Can you make it now?

If West is 1-3-5-4 he has a TO double, therefore I would play him more to be 2-2-5-4, but ok you said 1-3-5-4.
So that I play the ♣K at trick 2 and get a ♥ switch.
I am fairly sure that a ♣ back would have set the contract but a ♥ back gives us a chance now.
So the contract is only makeable because of the ♥ back.
I duck and ruff small, and ruff a ♣ in dummy.
Ruff a♥ and ruff a ♣ with the Q.
Play Ace of ♥ pitching either ♣ or♦ and take ♠ finesse.
Now you pull last trump and play your last ♣ endplaying West for your ♦K as 10th trick.

GBB

[Echognome]

Having looked through the hand again, I think that a club return by LHO will also set you, IF the defense get it right from then on. For example, RHO must cover any spade you play from dummy. Then you are one entry short to eliminate the hearts. LHO must also unblock his ♥K at some point. Somewhat straightforward, but a mistake possible. On the heart return you are home.

As an aside, there were other defenses that would beat you more quickly, such as the lead of Ace and another diamond, or the lead of a small diamond (not likely).