[Phil]

In our last match, one of the teams not in contention decided to skip their last match. Even though they weren't going to place, I think there was a legitimate medical reason.

As a result, your team gets tossed into an awkward round robin playing two four board matches.

In one of the RR's, a pro and client produce this auction:

4♠ - 4N
5♠* - 6♠

Two keys with the trump Q.

You get to lead from x 9xx Axx KT9xxx.

[hrothgar]

Phil, on 2012-December-17, 10:30, said:

In our last match, one of the teams not in contention decided to skip their last match. Even though they weren't going to place, I think there was a legitimate medical reason.

As a result, your team gets tossed into an awkward round robin playing two four board matches.

In one of the RR's, a pro and client produce this auction:

4♠ - 4N
5♠* - 6♠

Two keys with the trump Q.

You get to lead from x 9xx Axx KT9xxx.

Best way to set the contract would look to be cashing the AK of Diamonds

Give my Club length, I'm guessing that RHO is short, so a tricky club lead doesn't look like it rates to gain
I'm not ballsy enough to underlead my Ace, so...

[billw55]

Which is the pro and which the client? And how weak is the client?

Against ops I believe competent, l will start with a systemic club. I think I will need a club trick to beat this slam.

If the 4NT bidder is known to be weak, I would at least consider the ♦A.

[Phil]

billw55, on 2012-December-17, 10:50, said:

Which is the pro and which the client? And how weak is the client?

Against ops I believe competent, l will start with a systemic club. I think I will need a club trick to beat this slam.

If the 4NT bidder is known to be weak, I would at least consider the ♦A.

The pro is about to put down the dummy.

The client is not as good as the pro.

[JLOGIC]

Low diamond

[JLOGIC]

Lho bid keycard and his partner had two with the queen! That is a lot, these are desperate times and dummy has solid hearts, getting two diamonds is our only shot

[billw55]

oops

[sathyab]

JLOGIC, on 2012-December-17, 12:11, said:

Lho bid keycard and his partner had two with the queen! That is a lot, these are desperate times and dummy has solid hearts, getting two diamonds is our only shot

In that case wouldn't the pro have tried 6nt ?

[Cyberyeti]

sathyab, on 2012-December-17, 12:50, said:

In that case wouldn't the pro have tried 6nt ?

Not if he had a small stiff club and didn't know which minor suit ace his partner had.

Think Axx, AKQJxx, KJx, x.

BAM or straight teams ?

Straight teams, small diamond, not sure at BAM.

[Phil]

Cyberyeti, on 2012-December-17, 15:06, said:

Not if he had a small stiff club and didn't know which minor suit ace his partner had.

Think Axx, AKQJxx, KJx, x.

BAM or straight teams ?

Straight teams, small diamond, not sure at BAM.

Swiss teams with IMPs and 20 pt VP scales.

Look, its Palm Springs, not all the teams are Str8 OK?

[mikeh]

I have underlead unsupported Aces against a suit contract twice in my life, and both times against a slam. This would make the 3rd. Seems clear to me, especially with the client on play.

I'd do it against the pro and would almost be pleased if he popped dummy's king....that's respect But I'd be even more pleased if he didn't Fortunately, he isn't on play, so we're gonna beat this if the suit lies as I hope.

They aren't off two aces not AK♦ and they have lots of winners on this auction so I see no real choice here.

[sathyab]

Cyberyeti, on 2012-December-17, 15:06, said:

Not if he had a small stiff club and didn't know which minor suit ace his partner had.

Think Axx, AKQJxx, KJx, x.

BAM or straight teams ?

Straight teams, small diamond, not sure at BAM.

That's probably a 6♥ bid to avoid a ♦ lead even in non client-server Bridge.

[PhilKing]

sathyab, on 2012-December-17, 19:53, said:

That's probably a 6♥ bid to avoid a ♦ lead even in non client-server Bridge.

What if we transform the hand by removing the heart jack.

[rduran1216]

good to see justin agreeing with me that you made a donk lead. Good thing I made the falsecard of my life to win that match

[the hog]

Small D.

[Cyberyeti]

sathyab, on 2012-December-17, 19:53, said:

That's probably a 6♥ bid to avoid a ♦ lead even in non client-server Bridge.

As is said elsewhere, remove the J♥, or add a 4th spade so 6♥ has a great chance of a double and a spade ruff, but the hand type is reasonable.

[phil_20686]

I am surprised that no one has led a club. I club would be my intuitive lead here, though I would consider a low diamond, but probably would not do it, as it it never seems to work out for me.

The hand could easily be like:

---

where it is essential to set up a club trick before you get the ace of diamonds.

I think with missing three key cards, north must hold a trick source. Also, if he has the KJx diamonds and the club AQ he would think strongly about bidding 6N to right side. He must hold the AK hearts, and it would be a shame, from his perspective, to go off on a diamond lead when you have 8 spades two hearts, and two minor suit tricks on a minor suit lead. ESP if he has the heart Q, then he is basically certain to convert to 6N when holding the club q.

In short. I think a club or a diamond are reasonable choices.

[Phil]

rduran1216, on 2012-December-18, 00:35, said:

good to see justin agreeing with me that you made a donk lead. Good thing I made the falsecard of my life to win that match

Teammate of the decade.

[rduran1216]

Phil, on 2012-December-18, 09:54, said:

Teammate of the decade.

lol

[CSGibson]

Now what was the falsecard that's being referred to? That seems interesting.

As for the problem, I agree with the underlead of the ace on the auction/hand, seems too likely that this is our best chance at two quicks, which it looks like we'll need to beat the hand.