• An unusual problem (part 2)

    From franceshinden@googlemail.com@21:1/5 to All on Tue Feb 25 11:06:26 2020
    On Monday, 10 February 2020 20:56:07 UTC, ais523 wrote:
    Context: in a practice session, a hand came up in which, due to the intersection of some artificial bidding systems, there was the
    opportunity to play 1H doubled in a 3-3 fit with the balance of points
    at matchpoints.

    The consensus here, and one that makes sense, is that even though 1HX
    making would almost certainly be a top, it's too risky to try for it, especially with the ability to play in 1S (undoubled) with a known 5-2
    and possible 5-3 spade fit.

    It was only a practice session, though, meaning that we had the
    opportunity to try it out and see what would happen, with nothing
    actually on the line. The question is, how do you play 1HX on these
    cards?

    Dummy: S KT H K98 D K75 C K9862
    Declarer: S A9852 H Q73 D AT96 C 3
    Lead: H2

    I tried declaring this and failed horribly. According to a computer
    analysis, it can be made (with an overtrick!) double-dummy. I'm not sure
    if it requires some sort of double-dummy magic, or whether there's an
    actual path to make this even single-dummy, but I thought I'd set this
    to r.g.b as a single-dummy problem to see if anyone has good ideas
    (thus, I've hidden the opponents' hands for now).

    --
    ais523

    Not so hard to think of a layout where it makes 8 tricks, but that doesn't mean it's the winning double dummy line.

    Give LHO something like Qxx Axxx Jxx Axx
    Win the opening lead in dummy with the HK. Play K/A of spades and a ruff in dummy. Cross to the DA and lead a club up. Whether or not he rises you will make 2 spades, a spade ruff, two hearts, two diamonds and a club.

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