I got mesmerized by dummy's heart suit, and ducked a heart when north went up with the 10 of hearts on the first round. Hearts didn't break 3-3 and then I lost track of the hand. I can still make if I guess the clubs right. But there was a simpler line, obvious in retrospect if I'd inferred north's hand. He has 4 spades (lead) and 5 diamonds (bid). He has 10 points (Ace spades, A-Q diamonds). He probably has 2-2 in hearts and clubs and should not have any other honors.
Now, it is easy to count my tricks and keep south off lead. I have three spade tricks, two hearts and three clubs. The club suit (not the hearts) is the best place to get the ninth trick. I should lead a club to dummy and finesse on the way back. Even if it happens to lose, the contract is now cold. The complete hand. North had only 4 diamonds, but the line would have still worked.
I think it could still get tricky if the club finesse loses and a heart comes back. If you cash AK now, you're setting up winner(s) for them, and if you don't, there could be transportation problems later.
ReplyDeleteAnother line: test clubs (AKQ) and work on diamonds if not 3-3. Seems they can't take more than 1 spade, 1 club, 2 diamonds. Transportation is still an issue.
Anyway, I thought this was a pretty interesting hand (declarer play) when we played it yesterday.