[lamford]

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West gets off to the unlucky lead of the AH. How would you play? This is the final of the Spring Fours, about half an hour ago, and South, Richard Plackett, specialises in events with a season in the title. He won the Winter Games, Spring Fours, Summer Congress and Autumn Congress in the last year or so.

"I'll come running, to see you again. Winter, Spring, Summer or fall. All you have to do is call. And I'll be there. You've got a friend."

[mw64ahw]

Not sure how the title fits in

[pescetom]

I shouldn't answer in Expert class, but on a Friday night I would just ruff the hearts lead, trump to A, ♦A and ♥K pitching a diamond, diamond to K and ♣A... then cross ruff away, hoping to survive a trump return when East gets in.

[lamford]

 mw64ahw, on 2024-May-07, 10:21, said:

Not sure how the title fits in

I shall give you a clue. The Michaels bidder might well be six-five. You cannot make it if he is x AQxxx x KJxxxx. But ...

Or maybe it is the word "tough" in the title that does not seem to fit in. If so, you can put lesser mortals out of their misery.

[mikeh]

I’m assuming 5=6 for two reasons. East jumped to 4H which would be weird with 3=3 in hearts and clubs (not to mention enough diamonds to worry that that may be their best trump suit) and west bid 5C rather than 5H.

With that in mind, and not elaborating much just now, I win in hand via a ruff and lead a low diamond.

One of two things will happen: West follows or he shows out.

I think I’m down if he follows. I can play for his spade stiff to be an honour, but after I cash the spade ace, the best I can do is pitch a diamond on the heart king, cash the diamond king, play club ace, pitching a diamond, ruff a club, ruff a diamond and ruff a club with the spade 10. But at overruffs and x and exit his last trump. I’m ok if he started with Kx in clubs, but I think that very unlikely.

Otoh, if west is 2=5=0=6, I have chances

Say he ruffs ahead of dummy…. if he holds the heart Queen, he can only exit a trump, which I win in dummy. I play diamond king, ace, ruff a diamond. Cash the club ace, ruff a club, ruff the last diamond.

We’re in a 4 card ending in which east has followed to every trick and is down to a stiff spade honour and xxx in hearts. I’ve only lost one trick! I ruff a club in dummy with dummy’s last trump. East can’t overruff because I hold x void void xx and east will have nothing but hearts left.

So he pitches but that just delays the inevitable. I cash the heart king and ruff a small heart. I’ve scored all my trump in hand! So 5 trumps in hand (one following to the ace, two diamond ruffs and two heart ruffs. I’ve also scored the heart king, two diamonds, the club ace and two club ruffs.

I do need a lot of luck: west to be 2=5=0=6 with the heart queen. Or, less likely imo, to be H AQxxx x Jxxxxxx

[pescetom]

 lamford, on 2024-May-07, 11:04, said:

I shall give you a clue. The Michaels bidder might well be six-five. You cannot make it if he is x AQxxx x KJxxxx. But ...

Or maybe it is the word "tough" in the title that does not seem to fit in. If so, you can put lesser mortals out of their misery.

I am painfully aware of representing the lesser mortals (we are many, including it seems West) but at least not miserable
Not yet sure my first instinct was wrong.
If W is 6♥ 5♣ rather than the more probable 5-5 then of course the ♠A may have not dropped an honour and so we should probably ruff a club rather than play the ♣A.

[lamford]

 mikeh, on 2024-May-07, 12:24, said:

I do need a lot of luck: west to be 2=5=0=6 with the heart queen. Or, less likely imo, to be H AQxxx x Jxxxxxx

Most impressive. But you can make it without the singleton honour. West is x AQxxx x JTxxxx and you need a bit of careful play. Ruff lead, ace of clubs pitching diamond, ruff a club. Now, you mustn't touch diamonds, but king of hearts, pitching a diamond, ruff a heart. Spade to the ace with disappointing small cards appearing. Now ruff a heart completing the dummy reversal - again you must not touch diamonds. Now and only now the king of diamonds and a diamond to the ace and ruff another diamond. And only now lead the queen of clubs pitching the last diamond while South ruffs with a trump trick.

Both world-class declarers went off in the Spring Fours Final.