[han]

None vul, hands rotated for convenience.

AQJxx
x
KJxx
xxx

98xx
K9x
Q10x
AKQ

The auction went

1C - 1H - dbl (4-5 spades) - 2H
2S - pas - 4S

West led the diamond 9, low from the dummy, the 8 (positive) by west and won by declarer. Declarer then led a spade and west followed with the 10.

Should I finesse or play the ace?

I played the ace and LHO had K10x of spades, down 1. I thought that east likely had 4 hearts. Four hearts, a singleton spade plus the diamond ace, was that really possible? Apparently it was, Cayne held x Jxxx Axxx xxxx. I knew that Cayne usually bids less than almost everybody else, so perhaps I should have given more weight to this possibility.

Would they have bid or played differently if west held 10x AQJxx 9x xxxx and Cayne Kx xxxx Axxx xxx? It seems that in that case Cayne should also duck the diamond else playing the ace of spades can't lose.

Was there a reason for finessing that I missed?

[gnasher]

I would have played as you did.

I also didn't find the winning defence as East, and wouldn't have found the winning lead as West, so I have no business discussing this deal.

[han]

I hope your latter comment was a joke, but I am glad for your former comment.

On the one hand I felt like I made the decision after a reasonable thought process. On the other hand, it sucks to get such hands wrong.

[Fluffy]

han, on 2012-April-23, 10:13, said:

Was there a reason for finessing that I missed?

You make an overtrick.

I can't tell you what I'd do, you gave me the answer directly, its very hard to analyse for me when I know the right answer from scratch.

[han]

Yeah I could have asked it as a problem, I'll do so next time.

[nige1]

han, on 2012-April-23, 10:13, said:

None vul, hands rotated for convenience.
AQJxx x KJxx xxx
98xx K9x Q10x AKQ
1C - 1H - dbl (4-5 spades) - 2H
2S - pas - 4S
West led the diamond 9, low from the dummy, the 8 (positive) by west and won by declarer. Declarer then led a spade and west followed with the 10. Should I finesse or play the ace? Was there a reason for finessing that I missed?

Fluffy, on 2012-April-23, 11:24, said:

You make an overtrick.

Fluffy's is the best argument for the finesse. Maybe there is a tiny inference from West's attempt to get a ♦ ruff. Nevertheless, I'd play 4♠ as Han did because his reasoning persuades me: On the bidding, LHO is likely to hold 6 ♥ so he is less likely to hold ♠ length as well. Also RHO was remarkably quiet for a man with a ♠ shortage,

The ♠T is a brave false-card. Initially I thought the ten was not a siginifcant card but I was wrong: Had declarer held, say ♠ 9xxx ♥ Kxx ♦ Q9 ♣ AKQx then electing to play ♠T could abort an inspired defence.

[Fluffy]

nige1, on 2012-April-23, 11:48, said:

Fluffy's is the best argument for the finesse. Maybe there is a tiny inference from West's attempt to get a ♦ ruff. Nevertheless, I'd play 4♠ as Han did because his reasoning persuades me: On the bidding, LHO is likely to hold 6 ♥ so he is less likely to hold spade length as well. Also RHO was remarkably quiet for a man with a ♠ shortage,

The ♠T is a brave false-card. Initially I thought the ten was not a siginifcant card but I was wrong: Had declarer held, say ♠ 9xxx ♥ Kxx ♦ Q9 ♣ AKQx then electing to play ♠T could abort an inspired defence.

Good point, but I have the feeling that parnter would never ever duck ♦8 with 5 cards singleton is so much better try than doubleton and K10x in trumps and declarer missguessing

[JLOGIC]

I am convinced that of the posibilities of Tx or KTx, the T would be played by Sementa vs Han 99+ % of the time with KTx, and <1 % from Tx. But I'm sure nobody will believe me Han gave me the hand and I insta hooked when he said it went ten without even thinking about the rest of the hand. The arguments for playing the ace were compelling though.