I assume the diamond holding is just a temptation. The problem seems to come down to how to return to south without running short on trumps. The only entry to North is the final high trump. Now I am stuck
Tramtickets, With a spade lead one can discard the Ace and King of diamonds on the two spade tricks, draw trumps and then enjoy the rest of the diamonds.
I must offer a sincere apology. When I first came across this thread in November, I hadn't seen the hand. I thought that something must be missing from the opening post and people were adding jokey comments. So I added my own (not very funny) comment. I have now seen the hand in Mr Bridge's "My Shop Window". oops!
In case you have also not seen the hand, it is:
AQ7 AKQJ QJ10987 Void
Void 109876 AK A98765
The contract is 7H by South and the lead is king of clubs.
Yes, I have worked out the solution. It is one of those problems that is not too hard if you've seen this type of problem before, but maddening if the first time you come across one of these problems. It's rather artificial, but also rather clever and I like it! ☺
OK, for those who wish to see the 100% solution, independent of the distribution of the opponents' cards, read on. For those who do not wish to see the solution, do not read on until you are ready to read the solution.
Win the lead in hand (throwing a diamond from dummy) and play a trump to dummy. Ruff a spade in hand and lead a second trump to dummy. Ruff a second spade in hand and then lead your last spade to dummy, overtaking. Now cash dummy's fourth spade, shedding a high diamond honor and play the spade ace, shedding South's remaining spade honor -- and dummy is high.
I said "spade" several times I meant to say "heart." It's easy to spot because I cannot lead a spade from my hand when I have a spade void. Whenever I do suggest doing that, I meant to say "heart."
OK, for those who wish to see the 100% solution, independent of the distribution of the opponents' cards, read on. For those who do not wish to see the solution, do not read on until you are ready to read the solution.
Win the lead in hand (throwing a diamond from dummy) and play a trump to dummy. Ruff a spade in hand and lead a second trump to dummy. Ruff a second spade in hand and then lead your last trump to dummy, overtaking. Now cash dummy's fourth trump, shedding a high diamond honor and play the spade ace, shedding South's remaining diamond honor -- and dummy is high.
Comments
In case you have also not seen the hand, it is:
AQ7
AKQJ
QJ10987
Void
Void
109876
AK
A98765
The contract is 7H by South and the lead is king of clubs.
Yes, I have worked out the solution. It is one of those problems that is not too hard if you've seen this type of problem before, but maddening if the first time you come across one of these problems. It's rather artificial, but also rather clever and I like it! ☺
OK, for those who wish to see the 100% solution, independent of the distribution of the opponents' cards, read on. For those who do not wish to see the solution, do not read on until you are ready to read the solution.
Win the lead in hand (throwing a diamond from dummy) and play a trump to dummy. Ruff a spade in hand and lead a second trump to dummy. Ruff a second spade in hand and then lead your last spade to dummy, overtaking. Now cash dummy's fourth spade, shedding a high diamond honor and play the spade ace, shedding South's remaining spade honor -- and dummy is high.
CORRECTION
OK, for those who wish to see the 100% solution, independent of the distribution of the opponents' cards, read on. For those who do not wish to see the solution, do not read on until you are ready to read the solution.
Win the lead in hand (throwing a diamond from dummy) and play a trump to dummy. Ruff a spade in hand and lead a second trump to dummy. Ruff a second spade in hand and then lead your last trump to dummy, overtaking. Now cash dummy's fourth trump, shedding a high diamond honor and play the spade ace, shedding South's remaining diamond honor -- and dummy is high.