ark@rabbit.UUCP (07/27/83)
Here's the original problem: K95 86 KJ107 9842 -- AKQ10752 AQ843 6 Matchpoints. You are South. The bidding: South West North East 1H 1S 1NT 4S 5H 5S pass pass 6H pass pass pass Opening lead is the Q of spades, King, Ace, ruff. At trick two, West pitches a spade on the A of hearts. So far, I have seen the suggestion that you should lead a diamond to dummy and finesse against the Jack of hearts. If the diamond is not ruffed, this allows you to claim 12 tricks. Hint #1: What happens if the diamond is ruffed? Hint #2: This is a matchpoint problem.
csdc@hou2b.UUCP (07/29/83)
K95 86 KJ107 9842 -- AKQ10752 AQ843 6 Matchpoints. You are South. The bidding: South West North East 1H 1S 1NT 4S 5H 5S pass pass 6H pass pass pass Opening lead is the Q of spades, King, Ace, ruff. At trick two, West pitches a spade on the A of hearts. You can play for down 1 guaranteed by drawing trumps. However, if the first diamond is ruffed, you are down 2 (club back, another ruff). In this case leading the club now holds it to down 1. However, if the first diamond is not going to be ruffed, leading the club does not cost. Thus the correct play at trick 3 is a club. This holds the loss to a minimum when the hand cannot be made, and still allows it to be made whenever it can be made.