[ArtK78]

Scoring: MP

2♣ - 2♦
2♥ - 2♠
4♥ - All Pass

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This hand has a story before we get to the play.

This is board 7 of a BBO ACBL matchpoint pairs game from last night. About 2/3 of the way through Board 6, I got an error message on my computer and was thrown out of BBO. By the time I got back in, the next round had started and my replacement had begun bidding the hand with my partner. The auction was back to me after 2♣ - 2♦ - 2♥ - 2♠. I didn't know if my partner had had any discussions with my replacement as to methods. In our methods, 2♦ denies a terrible hand, 2♥ is Kokish, and 2♠ is semi-forced. In any event, I chose to close the auction with 4♥, which seemed practical. Personally, I would not have opened 2♣ on these cards - it is not good enough in my opinion, but I would have opened Namyats.

Having arrived at 4♥, I get the ♠4 as an opening lead (opps play 4th best leads). I played the ♠Q and, after some thought, RHO played the ♠9.

Plan the play.

[kenrexford]

Seems easy.

Win the Ace, pull trumps, and then lose three tricks? Hope the opponents make a mistake and let you get rid of one of the losers?

[Echognome]

Agree with Ken, except the play of the Q at trick 1 was a (very slight) mistake. Just play low, win the A and draw trumps. Easy game.

[ArtK78]

This is matchpoints.

Obviously, winning the ♠A and drawing trumps is 100% for the contract (assuming that trumps are not 6-0). Is it the right line at matchpoints?

[cherdano]

ArtK78, on Nov 19 2008, 02:26 PM, said:

This is matchpoints.

Obviously, winning the ♠A and drawing trumps is 100% for the contract (assuming that trumps are not 6-0). Is it the right line at matchpoints?

Depends on too many things (did LHO think 2♠ was natural, how good are they etc.)
Against most opponents, playing a club at trick two would only lose when RHO has both aces (he wouldn't go in with ♣K).

[kenrexford]

ArtK78, on Nov 19 2008, 03:26 PM, said:

This is matchpoints.

Obviously, winning the ♠A and drawing trumps is 100% for the contract (assuming that trumps are not 6-0). Is it the right line at matchpoints?

What, I'm supposed to finesse the spade into Kxxx and get a spade ruff just because RHO thought about the hand for a minute?!?!

If RHO has K9 doubleton, I could actually win the Queen and then small to the Ace, but then I look like a bigger fool when LHO had K-fifth and the opponents actually get two ruffs in.

I think the bad outweighs the good. I also think that anyone else in my shoes will think the same thing (or at least most of us).

[jdonn]

Echognome, on Nov 19 2008, 01:19 PM, said:

Agree with Ken, except the play of the Q at trick 1 was a (very slight) mistake.  Just play low, win the A and draw trumps.  Easy game.

I think it's more than a slight mistake. You play low and hope for K3 doubleton or singleton K. Since it's pretty insane to finesse at trick two anyway, this is clearly better than playing the Q.

RHO's thought at trick 1 is certainly meaningless.

[Echognome]

Also note that at some tables they will not get a spade lead and depending on the location of the ♦A, they might not be able to take the spade finesse as they have no route to dummy. Here I think I would take my 10 sure tricks and run. They might error later when I set up my spades by trying to cash two clubs and leaving me an entry to cash them. Who knows?

[kenrexford]

jdonn, on Nov 19 2008, 08:45 PM, said:

Echognome, on Nov 19 2008, 01:19 PM, said:

Agree with Ken, except the play of the Q at trick 1 was a (very slight) mistake.  Just play low, win the A and draw trumps.  Easy game.

I think it's more than a slight mistake. You play low and hope for K3 doubleton or singleton K. Since it's pretty insane to finesse at trick two anyway, this is clearly better than playing the Q.

RHO's thought at trick 1 is certainly meaningless.

Just for the record, I also would not play the spade Queen at trick one. Seemed pointless to mention that if I'm winning the Ace anyway, but I suppose the "try to induce a cover" silliness did need to be addressed.