[jdonn]

Scoring: IMP

P P P 1NT
P 2♣ P 2♦
P 3♥ DBL 3NT
P P DBL PPP

---

3♥ was obviously smolen. The opponents are randoms whose profiles say expert, but they have been pretty nuts so far. All the x's are very small spots. If you disagree with the bidding, well I don't really care hehe but I'm sure gladder to be in 3NT than 4♠ at this point.

Plan the play.

Sorry lol I forgot to put the lead. Q♥

[rbforster]

Any hints on the lead, or do with have to plan for all of them? I can probably manage on the A♥, K♠ switch:P.

[FrancesHinden]

and the opening lead is.....(which heart?)

p.s. it may be 'obviously' smolen, but that's virtually unknown round here - is that FG with 5 spades & 4 hearts?

[cherdano]

FrancesHinden, on Jun 25 2007, 02:51 PM, said:

and the opening lead is.....(which heart?)

p.s. it may be 'obviously' smolen, but that's virtually unknown round here - is that FG with 5 spades & 4 hearts?

Yes.

[jdonn]

Sorry peanut gallery! Lead is there now.

[Apollo81]

I had previously posted something pretty long, but I did not notice the doubles in the auction.

[skjaeran]

Apollo81, on Jun 25 2007, 11:05 PM, said:

I'm not sure how to take the "opponent" factor into account on this deal, here's what I'd do if I was playing against decent players who I trust not to make completely random leads:

Spoiler

I would duck the opening lead. I'd expect LHO to have ♥AQ109 normally. In this case, if we win ♥K and the ♠K is offside, the contract will go down. After I duck, one of several things will happen.

If he realized that he cannot safely continue hearts, he will switch. It looks liek he will play a diamond but that is far from assured, especially if he has the ♦Q and not the ♦10. He may not even do it from small diamonds, fearing "picking up" partner's diamonds for declarer.

Another really nice thing about ducking is that LHO may not realize that we started with the ♥J when we duck, so he may continue with another heart if he started with ♥AQ109 This will be great, obviously.

My line gives up a significant tempo when LHO has made a random-looking short suit lead and switches to diamonds (someone playing the ♦Q) In this case he probably has the long spades including the ♠K, so I am fairly confident I can pull in 9 tricks anyway in this case.

It was RHO who doubled 3♥. I'd expect the ♥Q lead to be a singleton. But it's still correct to duck.

[whereagles]

Duck the lead followed by a spade finesse seems canonical...

[Apollo81]

Duck. What is the next trick?

[jdonn]

Continuation after trick 1 hidden.

Spoiler

RHO pitches a discouraging club!!! LHO switches to a low diamond to the jack and queen. If you duck they continue diamonds. Now what?

[Free]

- duck the opening lead
- duck the ♦Q
- take the ♦ continuation
- lose the ♠ finesse and hope ♣A is in the good hand

[foo]

jdonn, on Jun 25 2007, 03:39 PM, said:

West,Both,IMP,
AJ87x,K65x,J,Jxx
QTx,J8x,AKxx,KQx

P    P    P    1N;
P    2♣ P  2♦;
P    3♥ DBL  3N;
P    P    DBL  AP;
3♥ was obviously smolen. The opponents are randoms whose profiles say expert, but they have been pretty nuts so far. All the x's are very small spots. If you disagree with the bidding, well I don't really care hehe but I'm sure gladder to be in 3NT than 4♠ at this point.

♥Q led.

=RHO= X'd 3♥ and the final contract of 3N; and =LHO= has led the ♥Q?
Something smells.

My gut says RHO was expecting Us to play 4♠ and has a ♥ void and ♠ length.

Win the ♥K.

Play a ♠x toward hand, inserting the ♠T if the K is not played by RHO.
If ♠K, toss ♠x, not Q or T to protect against possible 0-5 break.

If RHO wins ♠K and
a= returns ♣x, play ♣K
b= returns ♦x, see if ♦J will win.

[Apollo81]

foo, on Jun 25 2007, 11:38 PM, said:

...My gut says...

Translation: I read Josh's last post

[Apollo81]

I suppose I'd win the ♦A and lead the ♣K. If LHO wins the ♣A then he may be afraid to play another diamond since the spot position isn't known. I really can't think of a legitimate way to make this if the ♠K is offside.

More thinking to do depending on what happens on this trick. I may be able to tell who has the ♣A from hesitations too even if they don't win it.