[inquiry]

Continuing to following in jjsb's good idea, here is the next beginner level problem. (HINT if you consider yourself Advance or Expert, give the beginners and intermediate players a chance to answer before you post your replies. After all, advanced players can obviously easily solve beginner problems. I will post a few more challenging problems for the advanced/expert players in the Advanced/Expert forum if you guys really want a challenge).

IMPS
VUL N-S
DEALER: SOUTH
[font="courier"][b]

KJ5                 South  West  North  East  
AK43                 1D     4C    DBL    Pass
T654                 4S     Pass  5C     Pass
A8                   6D     end


AQ73
QJT
AK873
J  [/font][/b]

Contract = 6 Diamonds
Opening Lead CLUB-KING to ACE - SIX - JACK. Plan your play.

[inquiry]

JStroke has gotten it right.

[Rain]

Quote

Continuing to following in jjsb's good idea, here is the next beginner level problem.  (HINT if you consider yourself Advance or Expert, give the beginners and intermediate players a chance to answer before you post your replies. After all, advanced players can obviously easily solve beginner problems. I will post a few more challenging problems for the advanced/expert players in the Advanced/Expert forum if you guys really want a challenge).

IMPS
VUL     N-S
DEALER: SOUTH

KJ5                 South  West  North  East  
AK43                 1D     4C    DBL    Pass
T654                 4S     Pass  5C     Pass
A8                   6D     end


AQ73
QJT
AK873
J  

Contract = 6 Diamonds
Opening Lead CLUB-KING to ACE - SIX - JACK. Plan your play.

As Moliere's doctor will say, I'll take a shot at it!

(By the way inquiry, I really like the trouble you take to show us these hands.  Even your formatting, so neat and clear, everything looks more obvious like that, thanks!)

I think the essential part is just to lose 1 trump trick.  Looks like I should play 4D, then if east plays the 2, I duck, but covers if he covers.  This way, even with a 0-4 trump split I will lose just 1 trick.  

If trumps split 1-3, I lose nothing by ducking.   Then after this, I draw trumps and claim either 12 or 13, depending on trump split.  

Hope to hear more opinions.

Happy Friday
Rain

[inquiry]

Solution

IMPS
VUL     N-S
DEALER: SOUTH

KJ5                 South  West  North  East  
AK43                 1D     4C    DBL    Pass
T654                 4S     Pass  5C     Pass
A8                                       6D     end


AQ73
QJT
AK873
J  

Contract = 6 Diamonds
Opening Lead CLUB-KING to ACE - SIX - JACK. Plan your play.  


This hand is one where you have no losers outside of trumps. So you want to is protect against losing two trump tricks. The way to protect against this to lead a diamond from dummy and just cover whatever card EAST plays (assuming he follows suit).

This is a type of "SAFETY PLAY." You may lose a diamond trick you didn't have to lose if Diamonds split 2-2, but you never lose two tricks if EAST has all four diamonds (if you play low to your ACE or KING, and EAST has all the trumps you will be forced to lose two diamond tricks.

Technically, the best way to play this suit is to lead the DIAMOND TEN from dummy and then play low if EAST plays low. That way you can win all the diamond tircks if WEST has a singleton DIAMOND NINE. But give yourself full credit for D-10 being prepared to duck or low from dummy and covering whatever Diamond EAST plays.