From: jhaywood@ms.uky.edu (Joel D Haywood)
Subject: Re: 6N Play Problem
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 19:55:34 GMT
Organization: University Of Kentucky, Dept. of Math Sciences

In article <1992Oct12.114931.11821@eua.ericsson.se> ttllarsa@eua.ericsson.se writes:
>
>An interesting (?) declarer play problem.
>
>AQT752
>7
>AT
>KJ85
>
>KJ84
>KQJ3
>Q9
>A62
>
>As South you are declaring 6N. West (LHO) has doubled a diamond bid. North
>has shown a good hand with 6Spades, 4Clubs, ace of diamonds, 2 aces and the queen
>of spades. Actually the bidding was (EW vul) 2S-2N; 3S-4D*-(D); RD-4N; 5S-6N.
>(matchpoints)
>
>West leads the ten of clubs. Plan the play (with variations).

The obvious line is to eventually finesse West for the club nine.  So, club
jack, queen (else 12 tricks knocking out the heart ace), ace.  Then spade to
North, heart to South, club finesse if the heart ace is not played.

The non-obvious line is to attempt a squeeze or strip-squeeze.  Club king,
heart to the jack. (if it holds, heart king).  Now there are three cases.
1)  If the heart ace was taken by East, then a club return is surely fatal
(why would West lead from QT9 of clubs), so on the non-club return, play down
to this ending:

   x      Playing East for the long heart and West for the king
   ---    jack of diamonds gives the contract on a double squeeze.
   T      Spade from North, pitching the heart if not good.
   J

   ---
   x
   ---
   Ax

If the heart ace was taken by West, then a club return lets you play for the
club finesse anyway (inserting the eight).  So on the non-club return, play
for the same ending.

2)  If the heart ace doesn't show, then play for this ending:

   ---    Playing West for the singleton ace of hearts and king of
   ---    diamonds gives the contract on a strip-squeeze.
   AT     Heart to West, pitching a club.  This case will need a guess at the
   J      point of decision as to whether West has bared the king of
          diamonds.
   ---
   K
   Q9
   ---

The non-obvious line has to start with the club king in order to have reentry
to South after the spades are run.  This is the main problem with this line.

Another non-obvious line is to play West for the sole heart guard if the
heart ace is taken early.  This doesn't seem as likely as the double squeeze
line since West probably has length in diamonds to double 4D, making it less
likely that he has length in hearts.  Also, if East takes the heart ace and
returns a diamond, this option is no longer valid.

Now, with prefect defense, obvious needs the club queen or ten nine with West
while non-obvious needs king jack of diamonds and ace and no more then two
hearts with West (or three hearts smaller then South's heart spot card with
the ace in West).  However, non-perfect defense may give non-obvious better
odds.

I don't think I'll give the line I prefer (since I never have an easy time
decided these things.)  But, at least, this should summarize the lines
to be tried.

Joel
-- 
********************************************************************************                                                                                Joel D. Haywood                         jhaywood@ms.uky.edu                     (606) 231-9083                          jhaywood@ukma.bitnet                                                                                                    ********************************************************************************