[pescetom]

Still the same board.

MP

---

The bidding was discussed in this separate thread, let's say it went as in this diagram.

Now the play is the thing.

As North you are in 6♥, ♦K is led and you see this dummy.
How do you plan to proceed and how do you rate your chances?


[please use a spoiler until intermediates have had a real chance to think about it]

[Cyberyeti]

Spoiler

I'm gonna win the Ace, what card does W play, what happens if I try to ruff a diamond low ?

Also the auction is not gonna be that, I'm guessing dummy showed diamonds, but how many to get that lead ?

[smerriman]

Spoiler

Ruffing out the diamonds seems the only option.. ♦A, ruff, trump to J, ruff high. If they're 4-2, cross back in trumps and ruff another one.. if East overruffs we still have a spade finesse at the least.

[pescetom]

Cyberyeti, on 2025-April-18, 14:44, said:

I'm gonna win the Ace, what card does W play?

...

Also the auction is not gonna be that, I'm guessing dummy showed diamonds, but how many to get that lead ?

West will play the 5.

I now gave you a more realistic auction to chew on. The 2♦ bid promises 5+ cards.

[pescetom]

Cyberyeti, on 2025-April-18, 14:44, said:

Spoiler

what happens if I try to ruff a diamond low ?

Spoiler

Quote

what happens if I try to ruff a diamond low ?

no sweat, W provides 7 and E provides 6.

PS. don't overthink the problem, there is no catch: the I/A players found it difficult but I see no good reason, although it does have an interesting twist at MP.

[pescetom]

smerriman, on 2025-April-18, 15:21, said:

Spoiler

Ruffing out the diamonds seems the only option.. ♦A, ruff, trump to J, ruff high. If they're 4-2, cross back in trumps and ruff another one.. if East overruffs we still have a spade finesse at the least.

Spoiler

Quote

Ruffing out the diamonds seems the only option.. ♦A, ruff, trump to J, ruff high. If they're 4-2, cross back in trumps and ruff another one.. if East overruffs we still have a spade finesse at the least.

Close to my thoughts, although I want to tackle two rounds of trumps ASAP to discover the split and minimise some ruffing risks, so I would cash the trump J before the first ruff and return to the Q before the second. But let's see what others have to say.

[smerriman]

pescetom, on 2025-April-19, 10:26, said:

Spoiler

Close to my thoughts, although I want to tackle two rounds of trumps ASAP to discover the split and minimise some ruffing risks, so I would cash the trump J before the first ruff and return to the Q before the second. But let's see what others have to say.

Spoiler

Doesn't this leave you short an entry if you need to ruff a fourth diamond? You have to cross back with the ♣A to take the ruff and now have no entry to cash them..

NB I totally missed the fact that you had the diagram upside down and thought that West was leading.. though I don't think it changes my line.

[pescetom]

smerriman, on 2025-April-19, 14:24, said:

Spoiler

Doesn't this leave you short an entry if you need to ruff a fourth diamond? You have to cross back with the ♣A to take the ruff and now have no entry to cash them..

Spoiler

Quote

Doesn't this leave you short an entry if you need to ruff a fourth diamond? You have to cross back with the ♣A to take the ruff and now have no entry to cash them..

Yes it's a line that pays out to diamonds 4-2 in West (24%), yours is certainly better at IMPs.
But I conserve the chance of an overtrick if trumps are 3-2.

smerriman, on 2025-April-19, 14:24, said:

NB I totally missed the fact that you had the diagram upside down and thought that West was leading.. though I don't think it changes my line.

Well North is usually at the top and if he is playing the contract then East is usually on lead

Wonder where mike777, jillybean and co. all went... this was for them

[smerriman]

pescetom, on 2025-April-19, 15:31, said:

Spoiler

Yes it's a line that pays out to diamonds 4-2 in West (24%), yours is certainly better at IMPs.
But I conserve the chance of an overtrick if trumps are 3-2.

Spoiler

If trumps are 3-2 and diamonds are 3-3 I still have a free finesse for an overtrick too..

[jillybean]

pescetom, on 2025-April-19, 15:31, said:

Wonder where mike777, jillybean and co. all went... this was for them

We're around, busy weekend and lots of other things to distract me from answering play problems which I enjoy as much as taxes and crunches.
Seriously, I struggle with play problems on here, I have trouble with the orientation and lack of all the table information.

K♦ is from KQJ.. , how did West singal?
I have 5 hearts on normal break, 2 clubs, 1 diamond, 1 spade
The black suits are dead, I can't ruff in dummy. I hope West has ♠ K
My only hope is setting up ♦, I will ruff a diamond before pulling trump
Ruff 3rd diamond trick and return to dummy with ♣

[pescetom]

jillybean, on 2025-April-20, 08:22, said:

We're around, busy weekend and lots of other things to distract me from answering play problems which I enjoy as much as taxes and crunches.

No problem
It's just depressing when people are happy to dissect the bidding but snob the play, which in this case was the real purpose for posting the hand.
Of course partly my fault for posting at the end of the week, it should be clear by now that many people can only find time for bridge discussion when in the office

jillybean, on 2025-April-20, 08:22, said:

K♦ is from KQJ.. , how did West signal?

No need for the J in my book, especially against a slam.
As said above in the thread, if you play A then West will follow with 5... probably odd count or a singleton (cannot be preference for clubs).

jillybean, on 2025-April-20, 08:22, said:

I have 5 hearts on normal break, 2 clubs, 1 diamond, 1 spade
The black suits are dead, I can't ruff in dummy. I hope West has ♠ K
My only hope is setting up ♦, I will ruff a diamond before pulling trump
Ruff 3rd diamond trick and return to dummy with ♣

Spoiler

You're thinking the right way (unlike most in the tournament, hence the topic title) but maybe you could play it safer. I think you will make it on the actual layout so long as you can suffocate that urge to finesse spades.

[pescetom]

Thanks all for the replies.
Yes there was no mystery, it was correct and necessary to play on the diamonds, as everyone here spotted.

I thought it was worthy of interest in I/A as a play problem, both because it is a neat example of Dummy Reversal and because so many people in a national simultaneous tournament apparently failed to spot that: of 38 who played 6♥, only 13 made the contract.

Here is the full board (the spades King was not onside, but all the other suit splits could hardly have been more favourable).

MP

---