We came across a very interesting hand at Brian & Oliver’s practice session today.
As North I had QJ7, 72, A, AJ86543. East opens the bidding and it goes
East South West North
(P) 1
![Hearts !H](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_hearts.gif)
(X) 1N* [transfer to clubs]
(P) 2
![Clubs !C](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_clubs.gif)
(X) XX [we think 2
![Clubs !C](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_clubs.gif)
is making]
(P) P (2
![Spades !S](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_spades.gif)
) 2N* [Relay to 3
![Clubs !C](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_clubs.gif)
]
(P) 3
![Clubs !C](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_clubs.gif)
(P) 3N* [to play with stopper in
![Spades !S](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_spades.gif)
]
I thought 3N was a reasonable place to play. Even if partner has a minimum like xxx, AQxxx, QJx, Qx, we can handle most 4-1 club splits and take 1 spade, 1 heart, 1 diamond and 6 clubs for 9 tricks. I got the expected 3
![Spades !S](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_spades.gif)
lead but got a rude shock as dummy hit with.
Dummy:
642
AKJ94
KQ852
-
Me:
QJ7
72
A
AJ86543
Defense played 3 rounds of spades all following, RHO showing up with AK as expected. So spades split 4-3. Since we had 25 HCP it became clear that the second double of 2
![Clubs !C](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_clubs.gif)
was for penalty, and the subsequent 2
![Spades !S](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_spades.gif)
did not show a monster hand with spades. We have 7 top tricks: 1 spade, 2 hearts, 3 diamonds and a club. If diamonds split 4-3 (likely since RHO doubled and didn’t bid 2
![Diamonds !D](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_diamonds.gif)
), we can get one more. The 9th trick has to come from a heart finesse.
1. There’s a problem because we have to unblock A
![Diamonds !D](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_diamonds.gif)
to set up the suit. We then can’t cash A
![Clubs !C](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_clubs.gif)
immediately because defense would then take KQ of clubs when they get in with a diamond - that’s down 1 already (at least 2 spades, KQ clubs and a diamond). So we need 9 tricks without cashing A
![Clubs !C](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_clubs.gif)
.
2. The other problem is that we cannot afford to lose a finesse in hearts since the defense can put us back in dummy with a diamond and wait for 3 spades, a heart and a diamond for down one. So we have to assume that both Q and 10 of hearts are onside, since we know that hearts are splitting 4-2 or worse, given the auction. We lead a heart to dummy’s 9.
3. In order to score 4 hearts we need 2 entries to finesse twice. However, there’s no entry back to hand since we have already unblocked A
![Diamonds !D](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_diamonds.gif)
. Our only hope is to endplay one of the opponents by putting them in with the 4th diamond.
4. When the defense gets in with a diamond, they can take the 4th spade but then they have to either lead back a heart and allow us to finesse the J, OR they lead a club to our Ace, which magically gives us an entry back to hand to finesse again in hearts.
5. This line allows us to make the contract even if hearts split 5-1 or 6-0, since we only need 1 spade, 4 hearts, 4 diamonds OR 1 spade, 4 hearts, 3 diamonds and a club (assuming they return a club).
6. An alternate line is to play for 5 heart tricks, by assuming that the suit splits 4-2 with Q & 10 onside. In this case, we don’t need to set up diamonds so we would keep A !d and use it as the second entry to finesse hearts. The original line that involves an endplay is superior because it can handle 5-1 heart splits as well as 4-2. Hence the title of this post!
See the full deal here:
https://tinyurl.com/y9vbpz8wIn retrospect, defense should have let us play 2
![Clubs !C](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_clubs.gif)
redoubled, which is very difficult to make after defense plays three rounds of spades.