Posted 2013-July-26, 06:09
They can stop me setting up clubs by ducking the first round. My options seem to be:
(1) Overtake the first club, hoping for a layout where they still have to duck (Hx-Hxx or one where the 8 is doubleton). The take two diamond finesses whilst finding spades coming in.
(2) Lead ♣J and don't overtake. If it wins, cash four spades and exit with a club, hoping that they have to give me a red-suit trick. (One of the problems with this line is that if they're able to cash a third club it will greatly reduce my chances of an endplay.)
(3) Lead ♣J and don't overtake. If it wins, play a diamond from hand, then decide whether to play RHO for both diamond honours, or to play for an endplay against West. (Edit: The endplay idea might not work if RHO plays back a diamond, but he'll probably play a heart.)
I think I like (3) best, but I can delay the decision until I've seen their reactions when I lead ♣J.
I also have to decide what to do at trick one. It looks right to win it - if I duck and the club honours are split, they won't even have to duck in clubs.
... that would still not be conclusive proof, before someone wants to explain that to me as well as if I was a 5 year-old. - gwnn