[Hanoi5]

♦AQ7632

♦94

You need 5 tricks:
a. Finesse
b. Small to the Ace and small
c. Small to small and then:
1. Finesse
2. Ace

Maybe this is too easy. But I hope it ain't

[gnasher]

I run the 9. The only 4-1 break you can pick up is KJ105-8.

[655321]

Ace, then low to the Queen unless RHO played the T or J seems to pick up KJ and KT offside, at the cost of losing to JT doubleton and singleton 8 offside (i.e. picks up 2 3-2 breaks, at the cost of a 3-2 break and a 4-1 break) compared to gnasher's line.

I could be missing something, haven't put this through suitplay.

(LHO can cover the 9 from JT5).

[Hanoi5]

I think there is trouble enough if diamons are 3-2, but I guess you're right, running the 9 works when they are EXACTLY like that and in case you lose to the 10 you'd have another chance to decide. The next trick goes 4-8-???

[nigel_k]

655321, on 2011-January-20, 19:25, said:

Ace, then low to the Queen unless RHO played the T or J seems to pick up KJ and KT offside, at the cost of losing to JT doubleton and singleton 8 offside (i.e. picks up 2 3-2 breaks, at the cost of a 3-2 break and a 4-1 break) compared to gnasher's line.

I could be missing something, haven't put this through suitplay.

(LHO can cover the 9 from JT5).

What are you doing if T or J appears from RHO on the ace, then LHO plays T or J when you lead up, and the K and 8 are outstanding?

If you duck, then you lose to T8 or J8 offside when RHO false cards. If you cover, you still lose to KJ or KT offside when LHO false cards from T85 or J85.
Of course it depends how often these false cards will be found.

[655321]

nigel_k, on 2011-January-20, 20:15, said:

655321, on 2011-January-20, 19:25, said:

Ace, then low to the Queen unless RHO played the T or J seems to pick up KJ and KT offside, at the cost of losing to JT doubleton and singleton 8 offside (i.e. picks up 2 3-2 breaks, at the cost of a 3-2 break and a 4-1 break) compared to gnasher's line.

I could be missing something, haven't put this through suitplay.

(LHO can cover the 9 from JT5).

What are you doing if T or J appears from RHO on the ace, then LHO plays T or J when you lead up, and the K and 8 are outstanding?

If you duck, then you lose to T8 or J8 offside when RHO false cards. If you cover, you still lose to KJ or KT offside when LHO false cards from T85 or J85.
Of course it depends how often these false cards will be found.

Yes, good point. Since the difference between my line and gnasher's was only the difference between a single 3-2 break and a single 4-1 break anyway, what you say seems enough to make gnasher's line better after all.

[gszeszycki]

never try analysis at 1am:)

Start small from dummy. This gives RHO a chance to rise with K from Kx (in the hopes
you started with singleton J). If K does not pop first trick rely on taking
regular dia finesse second round of suit. This LOP gives up on one specific 4/1
holding (pointed out by Gnasher) but greatly increases your chances overall by
trying to get help from opps. I will admit if RHO happened to play the J on first round of dia I would probably play them for KJ.

[dellache]

gszeszycki, on 2011-January-20, 22:22, said:

one tiny improvement start with small dia from dummy . This gives rho a chance to make a mistake rising with the K from Kx (hoping you started with singleton J). If rho plays the 8 u cover with 9 and morph into gnashers LOP

You then loose 2 tricks if RHO really had the stiff 8 :-).
Anyway, even if running the 9 (gnasher's line) is the best theorical play, playing low from dummy rates to be often the best practical play : RHO might play the K from Kx fearing also Jx in your hand (crucial at MP, and even at Imps, RHO might not know how many tricks you really need from the suit). Can RHO really take the risk that you finally score *6* tricks and play low from Kx ? It depends on the whole deal context.

[Yogeshdg]

Only one way to play this suit for any number of tricks (assuming unlimited entries to each hand).

Start with diamond 9.If Lho doesnt cover duck it. If he covers ..just cover his card.

[ceeb]

Hanoi5, on 2011-January-20, 19:27, said:

I think there is trouble enough if diamons are 3-2, but I guess you're right, running the 9 works when they are EXACTLY like that and in case you lose to the 10 you'd have another chance to decide. The next trick goes 4-8-???

Mostly reasons to finesse. Probably LHO with J8x will treat J/8 as equals on the second round (and similarly for 108x if the first trick lost to the J). Therefore the strategy of drop 2nd round wins only against original KJ or K10 on the right; finesse wins against J10, J8, 108.

Moreover there is a possibility that LHO will (and should) cover on the first round from J8x or 108x which further reduces the chances for KJ or K10 offside.