Posted 2005-November-28, 22:26
I suspect that my original post is being misunderstood. I am not "curious" about the auction because it seems odd. Rather, I am wondering who was dealer, and who had a chance to make a call. This might enable better analysis as to options.
I also find the pips critical.
To re-explain, a tad further. Suppose that LHO had passed initially. Suppose, further, that his lead is the deuce and that the played pips and visible pips in dummy makes a suck of the Ace from RHO odd. This suggests a strange Ace underlead. An underlead of an Ace suggests that this was the least of all evils. I would expect, therefore, something like Qx-Axxx-Qxx-Axxx, except that this is too strong -- LHO might open with this. However, perhaps Qx-Axxx-Qxx-Kxxx??? That seems remote. But, an underlead of an ace certainly suggests that a diamond from trash might have been selected. Hence, if it appears that the heart lead was small from A-empty, I'd finesse.
A better scenario, more likely. What if the heart looks like a doubleton? This places the heart ace to the right. With AK of clubs, LHO would probably lead one, so I split those honors. Ducking the heart Ace, as opposed to rising and sending a small one back (lead-director), suggests that RHO has the King of clubs, LHO the Ace. The attack of a doubleton (6-1 unlikely for the 1C-P start) suggests that LHO holds Kxx and RHO QJ tight of spades. Thus, the doubleton lead suggests that RHO holds QJ-Axxxx-???-Kx(x). You cannot add in the diamond Queen and get a pass. Thus, I'd finesse.
Of course, all of this changes if the opponents are nutcases.
In any event, as I type this, I am having some difficulty visualizing any scenario where the heart is the lead and I win the first trick when the diamond finesse fails. The sole logical situation appears to be when LHO leads what appears to be small but might be MUD (the three, when I do not see the 2?), and when RHO sticks in a card that caters to a J-based lead. Then, I suspect that RHO holds diamond control and does not fear a pitch of the hearts on diamonds. So, if my Queen won the 10, or perhaps the 9, or even the 8 if the 9 is on dummy, I now get concerned.
Figuring this problem out using bidding theory and such seems less fruitful than using the psychology of the opponent's strange allowance of winning trick one in hearts, as well as restricted choice and the auction limitations.
"Gibberish in, gibberish out. A trial judge, three sets of lawyers, and now three appellate judges cannot agree on what this law means. And we ask police officers, prosecutors, defense lawyers, and citizens to enforce or abide by it? The legislature continues to write unreadable statutes. Gibberish should not be enforced as law."
-P.J. Painter.
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