[Benoit35]

Playing 6♥, no losers outside trumps:

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Edit: Defenders know from the bidding that declarer has the queen.

[Fluffy]

low from dummy against my usual opps.

[han]

Low from dummy against myself.

[gszes]

Ususal opponents or not
low from dummy (intending to play the 9) allows us
to pick up 15 of 16 potential trump positions though
two of those 15 (rho K8 or K5) will require us to guess
well when we continue the suit. We for sure lose out
only to stiff J with lho and we will probably lose out to
Jx with lho because it's tough to give rho credit for
being able to duck with Kx. The net yield of this
play is at worst 13 of 16. As shown below the worst
this LOP can yield >= the best of the other choices.

playing the A and toward the Q loses to lho
KJ8
KJ5
KJ85
net yield at beat 13 of 16

starting with Q intending to take double finesse
loses to rho
KJ8
KJ5
KJ85
net yield at best 13 of 16

leading low towards the T intending to double finesse
loses to tho

KJ
KJ8
KJ5
void
net yield at best 12 of 16.

[Benoit35]

How about starting with the 9 from hand, intending to cover with the ace to read LHO's mind a bit?

Strictly speaking, this is inferior - only 12 for 16, losing against Lefty's KJ8, KJ5, KJ85 or void.

However, with KJx(x) LHO needs to smoothly play low under the 9... any hesitation on his part would mark him with something, and we could change our mind and let the 9 slide.

Not against the rules AFAIK, but is it ethical?

[Phil]

Benoit35, on 2012-May-30, 12:02, said:

However, with KJx(x) LHO needs to smoothly play low under the 9... any hesitation on his part would mark him with something, and we could change our mind and let the 9 slide.

LHO splitting with KJx would be a blunder (imagine stiff Q in pard's). OTOH, when RHO has Kx, in practice its very tough for him to duck in tempo unless youre playing against robots.

[Benoit35]

Phil, on 2012-May-30, 12:16, said:

LHO splitting with KJx would be a blunder (imagine stiff Q in pard's). OTOH, when RHO has Kx, in practice its very tough for him to duck in tempo unless youre playing against robots.

Opponents know declarer has the queen. I can update the OP...

But yes, dummy to the 9 and counting milliseconds before RHO's card falls seems like the way to go.

[phil_20686]

A)low to the ten, then run the Q picks up all except KJ KJx off side = 13/16 holdings.

B)low to the 9 then low to the ten loses only to J-Kxx Jx Kx = 13/16 holdings. But its technically worse since 2-2 breaks are more likely.

C)Ace and low to the Q loses only to KJxx Kjx with lho = 13/16 holdings.

Generally, B is preferred as its not so easy to duck from Kx. Against genius card playing robots A and C are better.

If there is any inkling on the bidding about who has three hearts, you should choose between A and C though.

[MrAce]

phil_20686, on 2012-May-30, 13:14, said:

A)low to the ten, then run the Q picks up all except KJ KJx off side = 13/16 holdings.

B)low to the 9 then low to the ten loses only to J-Kxx Jx Kx = 13/16 holdings. But its technically worse since 2-2 breaks are more likely.

C)Ace and low to the Q loses only to KJxx Kjx with lho = 13/16 holdings.

Generally, B is preferred as its not so easy to duck from Kx. Against genius card playing robots A and C are better.

If there is any inkling on the bidding about who has three hearts, you should choose between A and C though.

C > A by apprx %2

A loses %19.21, KJ offside( % 6.78) + KJx offside, happens 2 times with total of (%12.43) = % 19.21 ---> A wins %80.79
C loses %17.21 ,KJxx offside (% 4.78) +KJx offside, happens 2 times with total of (% 12.43) = %17.21 ----> C wins %82.79

[Zelandakh]

Bridgehands suit combos says running the Q then low to the ace is the optimal way for 4 tricks. It seems logical that it be included in the comparison.

[Statto]

Cash ♥A. This is a book position as they say in chess. Small to ♥A is psychologically better, but you might not be bothered to do that if you don't have an entry without risking a ruff.

Fails when KJx(x) is offside, but you need a suspicion of that to play for it.

[Statto]

Zelandakh, on 2012-May-31, 01:35, said:

Bridgehands suit combos says running the Q then low to the ace is the optimal way for 4 tricks. It seems logical that it be included in the comparison.

Bridgehands appears to be wrong. This line loses with KJx(x) offside (the other way), as well as when RHO has a stiff King.

[MrAce]

Zelandakh, on 2012-May-31, 01:35, said:

Bridgehands suit combos says running the Q then low to the ace is the optimal way for 4 tricks. It seems logical that it be included in the comparison.

They are wrong. Running the Q is the optimal way for 5 tricks, not 4.

Starting with A is the max % to make 4 tricks

Running the Q loses to ( i am assuming you will go with double finesse)

KJ offside OR K stiff offside if you are planning to cash A in 2nd round
KJx offside
KJxx offside

Starting A loses to

KJx offside
KJxx offside