Posted 2024-April-15, 10:12
Okay, I've left this long enough, not getting any more answers.
Yes, of course you should unblock the heart. The fact that the player didn't gives a good idea of her skill level.
Not sure what initial diamond would do - declarer does have Kxxxx and partner JTx. IIRC, the spots were such that you can't run 4 diamonds and the heart from your side.
Also, of course, Marlowe has it right - 8 tricks, the ♦K is 9 at this point if you lead a diamond now. As it turns out, partner has the big clubs too, so it doesn't matter what club you play. Club = -1, Diamond = make.
And of course, this hand forgot to play the ♥Q, thus "unblocking" with the benefit of being able to cash the heart as well after running the diamonds.
The polling was hard as it was the last round, I was playing, and the ruling had already taken a long time ("finish the hand, was there a revoke, how many tricks taken at the table, clearly they'll take more, how many?) so finding players at her level was difficult (hence trying it here). What we got said "probably half and half, assign 70-30 make and -1". (Turned out basically any real percentage of making gave declarer the match, and there wasn't any overalls worry so the exact percentage didn't matter.)
Thanks for the interest.
When I go to sea, don't fear for me, Fear For The Storm -- Birdie and the Swansong (tSCoSI)