5/26 BBO

K762 opp J984 for 2 tricks

It's not terribly interesting, but plugging it into suitplay was surprising

Stanford 5/25

6H, trump lead

Kxx KTx Txx AJxx

Axx AQJxxx AK Tx

The best I can do is...
1, 2, 3: hearts (they're 1-3)
4: run the club ten, duck if covered
5, 6: club ace, ruff a club
7, 8: top diamonds
9: heart (pitch a diamond)

Kxx --- --- J
Axx x --- ---

Cash the final heart and pitch a spade.

This works if LHO has both club honors and fails to cover, if LHO has Hxxx, or if either defender has HHx. It also works when either defender holds 5 spades and 4 clubs. (Update: Oh, I guess it doesn't work when LHO has Hxxx. I was thinking he has a mandatory cover if we lead the T, but if we are never planning to repeat the finesse, then he's okay to duck.)

Is there something better? For some reason, I can't seem to get a double squeeze to operate (assume if you duck a club, they don't destroy communications by returning a club.) I'm going to study up.

If I've misanalyzed, that is par for the course. Please see the subtitle of the blog.

Update: Oh I was just glancing back, why duck the club if covered? Win CA, diamond back, then club up. We can still duck now.

casual game 5/19

1C* - (4H) - 6N

heart led

KJT9xx A xx AKxx
A8 Kxx AKT9x xxx

RHO follows the HQ. You lead a spade to the A, RHO pitches the HT. You knock out the SQ however you want, RHO pitches two more hearts. LHO plays a second (lower) heart, you win the K.

Update: A friend points out a more better line. So rewind to trick 1.