[Phil]

9xxx
Xx
Axxxx
A2

ATxx
AT9x
Kx
KQ9

P p 2h* 2N
P 3N p p
X AP

2H =8-11, 5-6hearts and no voids or stiffs. Spoiler - if you opt to win the club in hand RHO will play the J.

[mr1303]

The lead was a club I take it then?

It seems I can make this if the 2H explanation is correct just by going after spades. I don't expect diamonds to break 3-3, so after I win the opening lead I will duck a spade. Unless I can get the full spots in the spade and diamond suit, that'll have to do for now.

[CSGibson]

mr1303, on 2013-December-30, 00:18, said:

The lead was a club I take it then?

It seems I can make this if the 2H explanation is correct just by going after spades. I don't expect diamonds to break 3-3, so after I win the opening lead I will duck a spade. Unless I can get the full spots in the spade and diamond suit, that'll have to do for now.

If you are going to duck a spade, it makes sense to win the first club on the board, just in case righty's no singletons has an exception for a stiff K or Q of spades 3rd seat. But even if you get a spade, that makes for 2 spades, 1 heart, 2 diamonds and 3 clubs - 8 tricks, not 9.

Phil, I really want the spot lead in clubs before making my plan, it will help me decide on the possible shapes around the table.

[Phil]

Lead was the c5 sorry.

[CSGibson]

ok. Lefty has presumably 5 or 6 clubs - probably 5 - and I'm guessing honors in every suit - it looks and feels like he's taking a shot. I'm picturing a hand like KJ(x) Qx QTx(x) Txxxx, leaving righty with Qx(x) KJxxx Jx(x) Jxx, possibly - or something along those lines. I don't like the 2H bid with that shape, personally, but he's 3rd seat so maybe. Anyway, I'd ask if they generally make that bid with 5-3-3-2 shape, but I'm inclined to play for 3-3 diamonds, personally, even though that's not the answer when posted on the forums. Win the club in hand, K of diamonds then duck a diamond is my intitial play. I might revise if I think that opponents will show count by rote on the diamond K.

[Phil]

CSGibson, on 2013-December-30, 10:42, said:

ok. Lefty has presumably 5 or 6 clubs - probably 5 - and I'm guessing honors in every suit - it looks and feels like he's taking a shot. I'm picturing a hand like KJ(x) Qx QTx(x) Txxxx, leaving righty with Qx(x) KJxxx Jx(x) Jxx, possibly - or something along those lines. I don't like the 2H bid with that shape, personally, but he's 3rd seat so maybe. Anyway, I'd ask if they generally make that bid with 5-3-3-2 shape, but I'm inclined to play for 3-3 diamonds, personally, even though that's not the answer when posted on the forums. Win the club in hand, K of diamonds then duck a diamond is my intitial play. I might revise if I think that opponents will show count by rote on the diamond K.

This mirrored my thinking but I'm not sures it's correct in retrospect.

LHO had KQx K J9xx Txxxx. RHO had Jx QJxxxx QT Jxx. If LHO is sane then the double should warn of bad breaks and 4-2 diamonds / 6-1 hearts seems more likely than 33+52. After trying diamonds I couldn't take more than 7 tricks.

If you draw this inference the hand plays itself - set up the spade for 8 and RHO has to give you the HT at T13 after you cash your minor tops.

At the time I thought 33 diamonds was a lot better than 36 % since RHO shouldn't have a singleton.

Maybe there's a better line that combines chance.