[lamford]

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Matchpoints. Lead J♣

South was an Intermediate player at our local club, but found a clever idea here. I don't think they played any unusual methods so 4H was too aggressive but West led the JC round to the queen, East showing an even number. What now?

[nige1]

lamford 'Matchpoints. Lead J♣. South was an Intermediate player at our local club, but found a clever idea here. I don't think they played any unusual methods so 4H was too aggressive but West led the JC round to the queen, East showing an even number. What now?'
++++++++++++++++++
Intriguing At match-points, I would cash ♣AQ, ruff a ♣ and finesse ♦Q, intending to ruff another ♣.
(Alternatively, there might be case for advancing ♠Q, at trick 2. If defenders duck,
I suppose I could discard a ♠ on a ♣) but I feel that I'm missing the point

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[Lovera]

I believe that it is a question of not losing more than one trick of Spades, one of Hearts and one of Diamonds., Now, in trump suit, with Jxx vs Ax we would have two losers and therefore this should be ruled out. Perhaps the play must be set up in order to take advantage of tricks in dummy in order to have a restart to play the Diamonds from which to obtain the remaining tricks to fullfill the contract and possibly be able to play them as safety.

[lamford]

nige1, on 2021-October-01, 18:57, said:

lamford 'Matchpoints. Lead J♣. South was an Intermediate player at our local club, but found a clever idea here. I don't think they played any unusual methods so 4H was too aggressive but West led the JC round to the queen, East showing an even number. What now?'
++++++++++++++++++
Intriguing At match-points, I would cash ♣AQ, ruff a ♣ and finesse ♦Q, intending to ruff another ♣.
(Alternatively, there might be case for advancing ♠Q, at trick 2. If defenders duck,
I suppose I could discard a ♠ on a ♣) but I feel that I'm missing the point

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Indeed. You mention the only winning line to lead the QS and hope West ducks. It will look to West as though you need an entry to finesse in diamonds and hearts. She had Axxx xx xx KJTxx and when she ducked you play the ace of clubs and another club pitching the king of spades. West is toast.

[Winstonm]

lamford, on 2021-October-02, 09:48, said:

Indeed. You mention the only winning line to lead the QS and hope West ducks. It will look to West as though you need an entry to finesse in diamonds and hearts. She had Axxx xx xx KJTxx and when she ducked you play the ace of clubs pitching the king of spade and another club. West is toast.

How do you pitch the king of spades on the club ace when dummy is required to follow suit?

It looks to me as though a line that works is a spade to the king followed by the diamond finesse and then the ace of clubs and a club. pitching the losing spade on the third club.

The real trick to the hand is that on the 4th club from west declarer has to pitch a diamond .

[nige1]

Winstonm, on 2021-October-02, 11:36, said:

How do you pitch the king of spades on the club ace when dummy is required to follow suit?

It looks to me as though a line that works is a spade to the king followed by the diamond finesse and then the ace of clubs and a club. pitching the losing spade on the third club.

The real trick to the hand is that on the 4th club from west declarer has to pitch a diamond .

lamford 'Matchpoints. Lead J♣. South was an Intermediate player at our local club, but found a clever idea here. I don't think they played any unusual methods so 4H was too aggressive but West led the JC round to the queen, East showing an even number. What now?'
++++++++++++++++++
Lamford's deal is pretty If LHO ducks declarer's ♠Q at trick 2, then you can make, whatever you play from dummy, If you duck in dummy, you continue by cashing your remaining top ♣ and discarding a losing ♠ on a 3rd ♣. If West leads a 4th ♣ then you discard a ♦ from dummy and East is "squeezed", (If East discards 2 diamonds, you don't need the ♦ finesse). You can now ruff a ♠ safely in dummy and take any necessary red suit finesse(s).

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[smerriman]

Winstonm, on 2021-October-02, 11:36, said:

It looks to me as though a line that works is a spade to the king

I guess the idea is that if you lead the 5 of spades, West is not as likely to duck. Playing queen to the king would be silly at MP but queen and low still works with the rest of the line.

[edit] Not sure if that's true at all though, South could easily have Qxx and ducking seems right there too, if not more so..

[edit2] Oh right. Queen also works if *East* ducks the ace.

[Winstonm]

nige1, on 2021-October-02, 13:09, said:

lamford 'Matchpoints. Lead J♣. South was an Intermediate player at our local club, but found a clever idea here. I don't think they played any unusual methods so 4H was too aggressive but West led the JC round to the queen, East showing an even number. What now?'
++++++++++++++++++
Lamford's deal is pretty If LHO ducks declarer's ♠Q at trick 2, then you can make, whatever you play from dummy, If you duck in dummy, you continue by cashing your remaining top ♣ and discarding a losing ♠ on a 3rd ♣. If West leads a 4th ♣ then you discard a ♦ from dummy. You can now ruff a ♠ safely in dummy and take red suit finesses.

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Yes, I see. Thank you.