| ♠ A J 7 4 3 2 | |
| ♥ Q | |
| ♦ A 10 2 | |
| ♣ J 4 2 | |
| ♠ 10 | |
| ♥ A K 10 6 4 2 | |
| ♦ K Q 9 5 | |
| ♣ 10 7 |
West | North | East | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1♥ | |||
| Pass | 1♠ | Pass | 2♦ |
| Pass | 3♣ | Dbl | 3♥ |
| Pass | 4♥ | All Pass |
Let's say the defense starts 3 rounds of clubs as you ruff (LHO started with Axx; for purposes of this problem you can assume RHO has 5 clubs) and all follow to the ♥Q. Now what?
I think there's a great line, including at least one very pretty variant. A sort of hint is below the fold: the inferior line I actually took.
I crossed back with a low diamond to play 2 more trumps, RHO pitching a club on the 3rd round. That left this ending:
| ♠ A J 7 4 | |
| ♥ | |
| ♦ A 10 | |
| ♣ | |
| ♠ 10 | |
| ♥ 10 6 | |
| ♦ Q 9 5 | |
| ♣ |
It seems like you basically have to pick up diamonds, and that playing for 3-3 or Jx is best, but I figured that I didn't have to do that right away. So, I tried ♦A (both follow, no J), ♠A and ruffing a spade. RHO followed with the king and the eight. Seems awfully likely that he has KQ87, so I exited my last trump, pitching the blocking ♦10 and endplaying LHO.
More on Tuesday.
Here's what I came up with, not reading below the fold: SA, S ruff, H AK.
ReplyDeleteIf lefty has 4H: DK (unblock T), DA, S ruff. If he overruffs (endplayed) or spades 3-3 you make. Down when LHO is 4-4-2-3 without DJ.
If RHO has 4H: DK, diamond hook. It's a favorite. Down 3 if it fails :-).