I understand your logic, Aravind, but I'm still not 100% convinced. The problem I have is that the deep
![Hearts !H](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_hearts.gif)
finesse risks losing to a singleton 10 or Queen in West's hand. Let's try something a little different.
We know West has the 13th
![Spades !S](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_spades.gif)
from the 2
![Spades !S](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_spades.gif)
bid. I think it's also highly unlikely, unless West has taken leave of his senses, for him to have less than five
![Clubs !C](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_clubs.gif)
, possibly even six, to make what we know (following your logic) is a penalty double sitting
underneath your
![Clubs !C](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_clubs.gif)
suit. So, we've placed at least nine cards in the West hand, leaving only four red cards. Since West doubled the opening 1
![Hearts !H](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_hearts.gif)
, rather than overcall, I think it's fair to place him with 4-1-3-5 or maybe even 4-0-4-5, although the fact that he ran to 2
![Spades !S](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_spades.gif)
rather than 2
![Diamonds !D](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_diamonds.gif)
after your redouble is at least circumstantial evidence for for 4=1=3=5, or possibly 4=0=3=6. We have to assume that the
![Diamonds !D](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_diamonds.gif)
are 4-3, I think, if West has made an off-shape takeout double with only two
![Diamonds !D](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_diamonds.gif)
, and East is 3=5=5=0, I don't think you can make that contract without risking everything on the read and cashing the
![Clubs !C](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_clubs.gif)
A before you end up in dummy.
I think it all depends on your reading of the opponents' hands. The line of play I come up with is :-
We take, by force, the 3rd round of
![Spades !S](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_spades.gif)
, thinking ourselves lucky that West didn't duck the first round of
![Spades !S](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_spades.gif)
- I think that kills the contract.
Play a
![Hearts !H](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_hearts.gif)
, putting up the A or K from dummy. This protects against West's singleton
![Hearts !H](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_hearts.gif)
being the 10 or Queen.
Come back to the Ace of
![Diamonds !D](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_diamonds.gif)
, and now you can cash the Ace of
![Clubs !C](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_clubs.gif)
, removing East's (presumed) only remaining black card. Now it's time for your deep
![Hearts !H](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_hearts.gif)
finesse, then set up your fifth
![Diamonds !D](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_diamonds.gif)
in dummy, and East has to give you another
![Hearts !H](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_hearts.gif)
finesse.
It's quite honestly giving me headaches trying to work out which of these lines is superior. The one thing of which I'm certain is that your line is off if West's stiff
![Hearts !H](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_hearts.gif)
is the Q or 10 - you're going to lose 3
![Spades !S](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_spades.gif)
, 1
![Hearts !H](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_hearts.gif)
and 1
![Diamonds !D](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_diamonds.gif)
. My line is still alive, because I crash that high
![Hearts !H](http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_hearts.gif)
. It all depends on how you read the E-W hands, I guess.