[Trumpace]

I apologize in advance if these hands have appeared in a textbook/column before.

(As always, Adv/+ please refrain from posting too soon)

Plan the play in the following two hands.

Contract is 4S in both cases. It is rubber bridge, so please don't worry about overtricks.


i)

Scoring: Rubber

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West cashes the K and Q of clubs and shifts to a trump to which both follow.

What next?


ii)

Scoring: Rubber

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West cashes the K and Q of clubs and shifts to a trump to which both follow.

What next?

[vuroth]

i) If trumps are 3-2, draw 3 rounds, A♦, A♥, K♥. If Q did not drop, exit with a heart. If east wins, he must give you a ruff and discard or lead up to your KJxx of diamonds, and you make. If west wins, then you still have the diamond finesse, but if he returns ♦, take the Ace first then finesse.

If trumps are 4-1, draw trump, cash the aces, then try both finesses, as the ruff-and-discard isn't going to do you any good.

ii) If trumps are 3-2, draw 3 rounds, cash AK♦. If the Q did not drop, exit with a low diamond. If the Q wins, you're golden. If whoever wins can't exit with a diamond, you're golden - ruff and discard in clubs, and opponents breaking hearts (awww) gives you 3 heart tricks.

If they exit a diamond, play them for the Q♥ and finesse accordingly, since clearly they're being a jerk.

If trumps are 4-1, draw trump, cash the A♦, then finesse the diamonds. If it fails and they return a diamond, play as above.

V

[whereagles]

whole = sum of parts + interactions

(sorry, couldn't resist showing off my background as physicist.. lol)

[plaur]

Ill give it a try.
Draw trumps. Then ♦K, ♦A and a small ♦ towards the J. Ill win if ♦'s are 3-3 or the Q onside or second behind. If RHO has ♦Qxxx I will finesse LHO for the ♥Q.
Why didnt you give decl the ♦10 in problem two? Then I culd run 3 ♥'s for a 100% line Now I cant see the importance of ♥10.

[mikeh]

plaur, on Sep 14 2007, 02:17 PM, said:

Ill give it a try.
Draw trumps. Then ♦K, ♦A and a small ♦ towards the J. Ill win if ♦'s are 3-3 or the Q onside or second behind. If RHO has ♦Qxxx I will finesse LHO for the ♥Q.
Why didnt you give decl the ♦10 in problem two? Then I culd run 3 ♥'s for a 100% line Now I cant see the importance of ♥10. 

At the risk of spoiling a good problem, I will post my answers hidden: however, I suggest trying to work out the difference between the two hands first.. it is educational.

Spoiler

on the 1st hand, use the safety play in diamonds, after drawing trump. Cash the K and then the A and then lead towards to J. Making with 3-3 diamonds or any doubleton Q. If diamonds are inadequate, fall back on the heart hook.

On the second hand, the presence of the ♥ 10 adds to your flexibility.

In diamonds, cash the A and lead low towards KJ8. Cover whatever LHO plays. If he plays low, insert the 8. RHO, should he win, as he rates to, will be endplayed into either a ruff-sluff, a lead into the heart suit, or a lead into KJ of diamonds.

If LHO plays the 9 or 10, then play the J, and, should rho win, he is again endplayed, with the diamond suit being K8.

[skjaeran]

plaur, on Sep 14 2007, 09:17 PM, said:

Ill give it a try.
Draw trumps. Then ♦K, ♦A and a small ♦ towards the J. Ill win if ♦'s are 3-3 or the Q onside or second behind. If RHO has ♦Qxxx I will finesse LHO for the ♥Q.
Why didnt you give decl the ♦10 in problem two? Then I culd run 3 ♥'s for a 100% line Now I cant see the importance of ♥10.

You got the first one right.

On the second, try to look at the importance of the ♦8 (combined with holding the ♥T).

[plaur]

Thank you. A nice set of hands.