♠ K 9 8 6
♥ Q J 7
♦ 7 5 3
♣ A 8 6
==
♠ A Q J 10 7 4 3
♥ ---
♦ A Q 4
♣ K Q 3
West leads the ♥10 against your small slam. What is the best play for the contract?
You have 11 tricks, and, at first glance, it seems that leading to your ♦Q is the best chance (50%).
The first thing to do is cover the heart with the jack. East plays the ♥K and you ruff. You play a spade to dummy, drawing the trumps as both opponents follow. Next you lead the ♥J and East covers with the ace. You ruff, play three rounds of clubs ending in dummy and advance the ♥7. When East plays low, you discard a low diamond.
Here's a look at all four hands:
♠ K 9 8 6
♥ A J 7
♦ 7 5 3
♣ A 8 6
♠ 5 ♠ 2
♥ 10 9 8 6 3 ♥ A K 5 4 2
♦ K J 8 2 ♦ 10 9 6
♣ 9 7 2 ♣ J 10 5 4
♠ A Q J 10 7 4 3
♥ ---
♦ A Q 4
♣ K Q 3
On this layout, a diamond return will be into your A-Q and a ruff-sluff is no better for the defense.
If the above line of play didn't develop (East has the ♥8, for example), you can always fall back on a diamond finesse. The only time the recommended line isn't best is when East has ♥A K doubleton and you could have ruffed out both high cards.
Here is the BBO Handviewer:
Used to play bridge all night after dates with my college gang. Been a long time! Looking at the hands you've been putting up is now a source for headaches.
ReplyDeleteBut your hand today reminds me of a hand back then. They had the grand slam cold. But, I had a ton of a suit and killed them with a preemptive bid. The guy was a fireplug Greek kid and was so incensed that he chased me out into the snow and across the quad in socks.
Always wear shoes and tolerance when you play me anything... :)
was so incensed that he chased me out into the snow and across the quad in socks.
ReplyDeleteLOL, I would have loved to see that!