halle1@houxz.UUCP (J.HALLE) (05/15/84)
# S:Q97642 H:AT4 D:85 C:92 S:K5 S:JT83 H:K863 H:752 D:6 D:A732 C:KQJT83 C:76 S:A H:QJ9 D:KQJT94 C:A54 Contract:5D dbl Lead:6D to the Ace, east exits with 2D. Whats your best line of play? ###################################################### Draw trumps. Play the last two trumps, leaving this ending with west and north to discard: S:Q97 H:AT4 D: C:92 S:K5 S: H:K86 H:immaterial D: D: C:KQJ C: S:A H:QJ9 D: C:A54 There are three variations, depending on west's discard. 1.Spade. Discard a low club or spade. Cash the spade. Take three hearts, the spade queen and a club. 2.Club. Discard a spade. Duck a club. Win the return, taking a spade, two clubs, and three hearts. 3.Heart. Discard a club. Cash the spade. Lead the heart queen. If west plays low, lead the jack. Lead a spade. Win the club return, and cross to the good spade via the heart ten. Note: you cannot take the heart finesse early. If you cash the ace first, line 2 fails. If you don't, you have no reentry to finish the trumps without destroying something. West, of course, would cover if you don't cash, not cover the Q or J if you do. No lead or other return will beat the hand. (Try it.)