BBO 11/24

I suck.

Palo Alto 11/10

Matchpoints, they bid 2S all pass

Partner leads CJ, you see

--------x
--------AKTxx
--------x
--------KQxxxx
-----------------KTx
-----------------xx
-----------------A87654
-----------------xx

Declarer wins the CA in hand, cashes the SA, partner following the J. Declarer crosses to the CK, plays CQ, you ruff with the T, declarer shedding a diamond. You cash the DA, and partner signals encouragement. Now what?

Berkeley Sectional 11/6

I'm really too lazy to use the BBO iframes hand thing. It takes too long to do, and too long to load on the page.

You open 1S and reach 4S after LHO has bid Michaels (no, don't ask how you reached it.)

Kxx
Jxx
Axx
QT87

AJ987
xx
xx
AK65

They lead heart heart heart, you ruff in hand. You pick up spades for no losers, LHO having 2. Now what?


You have x QJx T98xxx AJx. Partner preempts 3S.
3S - p - p - x
p - 4H all pass

1. What do you lead?

I led a dumb spade, we get

---------xx
---------Axxx
---------AKQ
---------T9xx
x
QJx
T98xxx
AJx
---------
---------
---------
---------

Partner wins the SA and leads back the Q. Declarer covers the K, we ruff. Diamond exit, declarer wins, draws trumps in two, partner having two (of course).

Declarer ruffs a spade, cashes the remaining diamonds, sluffing a club on the third diamond.

Now he leads a club to the K. This part has been bugging me.

If declarer started with KQxx of clubs (KQx remaining), then we have to duck this trick to prevent ourselves from getting endplayed.

This part I'm not so sure about, but... if partner has Hx in this position, then I think she must actually play the honor (second hand high) to get off an endplay. If partner has Kx, then second hand low leads to only 2 tricks in the suit. If partner has Qx and plays small, are we supposed to duck the K or win it? If we duck, and declarer plays a small club, are we supposed to put in the J, or A to croc partner's Q? It's pretty unsolvable.

From partner's point of view, can declarer ever have KJxx and play this way? If partner has Qx, then as long as declarer hooks against the Q, we're toast. Ducking the CA doesn't help, declarer can exit any club card he wants, and we're endplayed. Will declarer ever misguess clubs? If partner has the Axx, then the K is right. But that would give preemptor AQJTxxx and a side ace, which is too good. So I guess Q from Qx in this scenario is always right.