[dickiegera]

---

What is best way to play for 3 tricks?

Am I correct that 9 of clubs is the key?

[kenberg]

dickiegera, on 2016-August-08, 11:59, said:

---

What is best way to play for 3 tricks?

Am I correct that 9 of clubs is the key?

I had a similar holding the other day. This was the trump suit, my rho had shown strength and diamond length. I believe I should have played him for Hx. Then I lead from the board toward my J. If he ducks, my J loses to the K/Q and now I play the A to drop his Q/K. And if he goes up when I lead from the board, I later hook.


I didn't do that, I think I should have. (one reason, it would have worked!)

But that's when I have some info from the auction. I need to think about the right line played cold.

This might be one of those game things where it matters whether you think your rho is up for smoothly playing low from Kx if you lead a spot from the board.

[MrAce]

Play small towards AT, if you see LHO play a small card then insert T and if this loses try to cash A next round to drop the missing honor.
If LHO inserts Q or K, win with A and play the T from North.

This line will make 3 tricks

-Each time LHO has both K and Q (except KQ 4th or 5th )
-Each time LHO has stiff K or Q
-Each time LHO has Kx or Qx
-Each time someone has KQ doubleton.

[MrAce]

When LHO has KQ73, playing small to T does not work. Starting with J does. But this is shooting for very small target imo.

[Stefan_O]

dickiegera, on 2016-August-08, 11:59, said:

What is best way to play for 3 tricks?

Am I correct that 9 of clubs is the key?

According to the app at: www.suitplay.com
you should start with low from South, and finesse the ten if East follows low.
Then cash the Ace.
This gives you a 42.9565% chance of 3 tricks.

[msjennifer]

This depends upon the earlier bidding and plays to the earlier tricks. they may offer you some clue whether you play a small and finesse the 10 or as Kenberg suggested small towards the jack .Without any clues, I prefer to play small towards the jack.

[Caitlynne]

The correct play is to lead small toward the ATxx and insert the 10 if LHO plays small or the 9.

If LHO plays the 9, you simply play for LHO to have begun with Q9 or K9 doubleton and next cash the Ace to fell this honor, for 3 tricks in the suit.

If LHO plays a smaller spot than the 9, you next have to decide whether it is more likely that LHO began with 2 or 3 cards in the suit. If you think it is 2 cards, you simply continue as if LHO had played the 9. If you think it is more likely to be 3 cards, you return to hand and lead the Jack, hoping to pin the now singleton 9 with RHO as you finesse for the high honor against LHO.

If LHO began with K9x or Q9x, there is no legitimate way to play this suit combination to produce 3 tricks.

[kenberg]

Caitlynne, on 2016-August-09, 09:29, said:

The correct play is to lead small toward the ATxx and insert the 10 if LHO plays small or the 9.

If LHO plays the 9, you simply play for LHO to have begun with Q9 or K9 doubleton and next cash the Ace to fell this honor, for 3 tricks in the suit.

If LHO plays a smaller spot than the 9, you next have to decide whether it is more likely that LHO began with 2 or 3 cards in the suit. If you think it is 2 cards, you simply continue as if LHO had played the 9. If you think it is more likely to be 3 cards, you return to hand and lead the Jack, hoping to pin the now singleton 9 with RHO as you finesse for the high honor against LHO.

If LHO began with K9x or Q9x, there is no legitimate way to play this suit combination to produce 3 tricks.

Right. I was thinking this was exactly the combo I had, but it isn't. In my case, had I played for Hx on my right I coould have brought in the suit with one loss. But here I would need H9 on my right, and that's asking too much unless I peek.

[Stephen Tu]

Caitlynne, on 2016-August-09, 09:29, said:

If LHO plays a smaller spot than the 9, you next have to decide whether it is more likely that LHO began with 2 or 3 cards in the suit. If you think it is 2 cards, you simply continue as if LHO had played the 9. If you think it is more likely to be 3 cards, you return to hand and lead the Jack, hoping to pin the now singleton 9 with RHO as you finesse for the high honor against LHO.

This isn't right. After the ten loses to an honor, it's overwhelmingly better to cash the ace next. Trying to pin the 9 basically caters to two holdings, Q9 and K9 with RHO. Cashing the ace caters to 4 Qx/Kx combos with LHO and KQ doubleton with righty. It's never a close decision once you've embarked on this path.

If LHO is marked with length enough to change the best line (e.g. RHO has 2 fewer vacant spaces), you are supposed to try to run the J first round.

Quote

If LHO began with K9x or Q9x, there is no legitimate way to play this suit combination to produce 3 tricks.

No, you can run the J, and hook the ten next round. Or if LHO covers the J, on second round you can play low to t and duck if the 9 isn't produced. This is a reasonable play if the bidding/previous play have marked LHO as more likely long in the suit.

[miamijd]

With nothing else to go on, play low to the ten. This wins whenever West has a singleton or doubleton honor, and also when he has KQx.

But maybe you have reason to believe that West is longer in clubs than East. If that's the case, you should play East for the doubleton honor by playing low off the board toward the Jack. If East plays his honor, you can hook West for the other one. If East ducks, the Ace will fell his doub honor.

Cheers,
Mike

[Phil]

Also, keep in your repertoire the correct play for two tricks with this layout.