rogerc@orca.UUCP (Roger M. Christal) (05/24/84)
S:AQJ4 H:6 D:AKQ6 C:QJT9 S:KT96 S:852 H:QT83 H:97542 D:3 D:JT97 C:A863 C:4 S:73 H:AKJ D:8542 C:K752 Contract:6NT Analyze for all possible leads by west. ------------------------------------------------------------------- I think I finally found the solution to the Diamond lead problem. If declarer takes 3 Diamond tricks off the top, West must *not* sluff any Clubs. Suppose for argument sake that West sluffs a Heart and a Spade. Declarer then takes 3 rounds of Clubs, preserving the Queen and the King. Throw in East with the 4th Diamond. The position with West to discard. S: AQJ4 H: 6 C: Q S: KT9 S: and H: 6 cards in both H: QT8 C: and D: none C: A S: 73 H: AKJ C: K If West discards the Ace of Clubs, declarer has two entries to the hand for Spade finesses. If West discards a Heart and East returns a Spade, declarer has an entry to the hand for the second Spade finesse. If West discards a Heart and East returns a Heart, declarer plays the Ace and King, discarding the 4 of Spades in the dummy. On the lead of the Jack of Hearts, West must now dump a Spade (dump Club from dummy) or the Ace of Clubs (dump Spade from dummy). If West discards a Spade and East returns a Spade or a Heart, declarer wins 4 Spade tricks and the Ace and King of Hearts. Even if West chooses to throw some other combination of Hearts and Spades on declarers Diamonds, the basic line of as outlined still works. Whew! I'm glad I finally figured that one out! Mugs Away, Mate! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - \\\\\\ _________ Doctor Dart - - - - - - - - >>>>>>----==(_________)----- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ////// ..!tektronix!orca!rogerc