Best play in a hand – IIThis is one of a series of analyses of the play of the hand that I did in rec.games.bridge newsgroup during the late 80’s (that would be the 1980’s, not the 1880’s.) <!– PAGE TEXT GOES HERE –!>
The hand
S KJ953
H J76
D T5
C AT7
S - S Q7642
H 9842 H AKQ5
D AKQ9642 D -
C 93 C QJ82
S A108
H T3
D J873
C K654
The bidding and lead, East dealer
S W N E
- - - 1S
p 2D p 2H
p 4H p p
p
South lead the ten of hearts.
AnalysisThis hand is easy enough to make double dummy; the line of play may even be the right way to play at the table. The problem is that you can’t enjoy the diamonds unless you get both a 3-3 D split and a 3-2 H split, which is a fairly thin shot. So let’s count tricks. Four hearts in hand and three diamonds (if you can get them) leaves three. Entry problems say you can’t get three spade ruffs, so you need clubs. To get clubs you need to lead to the QJ8x. So, for 10 tricks we need 2S,4H,3D,1C, or 2S,4H,2D,2C. Our chances are better to get two clubs. So, Trick 1, take in hand. Trick 2 ruff a spade on the board. Trick 3 lead 9C covered by TC,JC and KC. (TC cover is obligatory.) It doesn’t matter what comes back, say a heart. Take in hand over J cover and ruff another spade. Cash two diamonds, pitching two spades. Lead the 3C and play for Morton’s fork. I.e. if A comes up you have QJ. If 7 comes up you take in hand, pull the last trump, and lead a low club to clear the A.This line requires ATx, KTx, or AKT(x) of clubs in front of the QJ8x and reasonable red suit splits. I suspect it works out in percentages to a little better than playing for the diamond split. This page was last updated October 1, 2005. |