[Cyberyeti]

Teams: Dealer South

---

If you reach 6♥(S), W leads J♣

[JanisW]

I would open 4♥ as S and that would probably end the bidding...
I do not have enough defence for a 1♥ opening, my suit-quality is acceptable and 3♥ is a serious underbid.
Some N might press on, but my partner wouldn't
If we had reached 6♥ I'd ruff the J♣
Now I can either try to drive out the A♥ and set up the Spades, which will always work if Spades are 3-3. If Spades are 4-2 I need to guess to play the finesse/ruffing finesse right.
Alternatively, I can cross my fingers to guess the right finesse and ruff the remaining 3 clubs in dummy.

I don't know which line is better, my guess would be it is setting up the Spades

Regards
Janis

[steve2005]

JanisW, on 2017-December-16, 08:34, said:

Now I can either try to drive out the A♥ and set up the Spades, which will always work if Spades are 3-3. If Spades are 4-2 I need to guess to play the finesse/ruffing finesse right.

If West has A♥ they will lead a ♦ and kill your entry to cash spades. Even if west wins A♥ killing the entry might work (not sure)

[Cyberyeti]

The two auctions I know were 4♥-6♥ and ours which was:

---

Since we had exclusion available and I didn't use it or blackwood, 5♥ guarantees a club void as 5♣ might be murky.

most declarers ruffed the club, played ♠AQ covered with the K and ruffed, opinions diverged at this point.

[Zelandakh]

Hands like this are difficult for DD auctions because there are always plenty of subjective decisions that can be influenced by seeing both hands. I might well reach the slam through an auction such as:

1♥ = ~10-17, 5+ hearts, unbal
... - 1♠ = INV+ relay
1NT = min, <4 spades (a Walrus underbid really but planning to show distributional extras if partner shows an INV hand)
... - 2♣ = GF relay
2♦ = 4+ clubs
... - 2♥ = relay
3♠ = 7+ hearts, 4 clubs, 0-2 controls
... - 4♣ = relay
5♣ = ♥KQ, ♣KQ, denies ♠K/♠Q
... - 6♥ (North could still find out about a singleton ♦K below 5♥ but if bidding slam anyway it does not matter)

...but equally North might easily decide it is too risky and stop in 4 or 5♥. Stopping is probably the correct DD action I would guess.

For the play, my first instinct was the start CY suggests but I am wondering if starting with the diamonds is not better:
♣ ruff, ♦A, ♦Q ruffed.

If East covers this, we are all but home:
♣ ruff, ♦J throwing ♣, ♦ ruff, ♣ ruff, ♠A, ♠ ruff, ♥J.

If East does not cover then we need to find East with ♠Kxx or ♠Kx + ♥A or ♠Kx + ♥:
♠A, ♠Q, covered and ruffed), ♣ ruff, ♠J throwing ♣, ♦ ruff, ♣ ruff, ♦ ruff, ♥J

This is obviously not the best line DD but it probably offers as good chances against a real-world East as the technically better lines.

[nige1]

Cyberyeti, on 2017-December-16, 06:53, said:

Teams: Dealer South. If you reach 6♥(S), W leads J♣
The two auctions I know were 4♥-6♥ and ours which was:
Since we had exclusion available and I didn't use it or blackwood, 5♥ guarantees a club void as 5♣ might be murky.
most declarers ruffed the club, played ♠AQ covered with the K and ruffed, opinions diverged at this point.

---

It's hard to avoid 6♥ (suggested auction on left),
Although it's a poor contract on ♣J lead.
Clutching at straws. I like the main variant of Zelandakh's line:
Ruff the ♣ lead. Cash ♠A, Cash ♦A. Lead ♦Q covered and ruffed.
Ruff a 2nd ♣. Cash ♦J, chucking a 3rd ♣. Ruff the last ♦ with ♥8.
Ruff your last ♣. Ruff a ♠. Draw trumps.

---

[Cyberyeti]

I was dummy, partner had to play this one, the hand has some interest in the play:

---

I don't think you can actually do it on this lead because W has 10♥, only 2 spades and 3 diamonds and you're an entry short and end up promoting 10♥.

The curious thing was that it can be beaten played by either hand. Imagine the fantasy auction starting with a NAMYATS type 4♣ resulting in N declaring. If partner leads a diamond, can you withhold the K as W ?

There are also some amusing end positions involved as on a diamond to the KA you can potentially rumble the trumps leaving:

---

Where E is squeezed in 3 suits the trick before dummy.

[nige1]

Cyberyeti, on 2017-December-18, 05:17, said:

I was dummy, partner had to play this one, the hand has some interest in the play:
I don't think you can actually do it on this lead because W has 10♥, only 2 spades and 3 diamonds and you're an entry short and end up promoting 10♥.

The Ostrich, who hasn't yet attended the lesson on finesses, makes easily,
Ruff the ♣ opening lead.
Cash ♦A and ♠A,
Ruff a ♦.
Ruff a ♣.
Ruff a ♦.
Ruff a ♣.
Ruff a ♠.
Lead ♥K.
Win the return.
And claim.

---

[Cyberyeti]

nige1, on 2017-December-18, 05:46, said:

The Ostrich, who hasn't yet attended the lesson on finesses, makes easily,
Ruff the ♣ opening lead.
Cash ♦A and ♠A,
Ruff a ♦.
Ruff a ♣.
Ruff a ♦.
Ruff a ♣.
Ruff a ♠.
Lead ♥K.
Win the return.
And claim.

---

OK, because ♣A drops and he only has one trump, means the diamond lead is required to beat it

Although I think it's a bad line single dummy.

[Jinksy]

Cyberyeti, on 2017-December-18, 05:17, said:

Imagine the fantasy auction starting with a NAMYATS type 4♣ resulting in N declaring.

I was about to claim just that for my auction, and when W leads the J♣ I'll insist that E lead one