Outguessing on a Junior Worlds slam

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Alan Frank

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Print Outguessing on a Junior Worlds slam by Alan Frank Aug. 15, 2012

North

♠

Kxxxx

♥

9xxx

♦

J10

♣

South

♠

♥

AKQJ8

♦

AQx

♣

AQJx

Playing in the KO rounds of the Junior World Championships, you end up in 6♥ on an uncontested auction. After the lead of a low trump, you draw two more rounds (there are hands where, double-dummy, this is wrong, but I think all sensible single-dummy lines start this way). East discards a low spade and a low club.

Maybe this means he doesn't have the ♣K, maybe it means he has the ♦K, or maybe it means he is trying to double-cross you. Ignoring the fact that 90% of the readers of this article have a wire, what would you do?

Finesse East for the ♣K

Finesse East for the ♦K

Finesse West for the ♣K (a ruffing finesse after conceding a diamond and pitching a club)

Ace and a small ♣, then ♦ finesse if that doesn't bring down the king

I would not have drawn three rounds of trump

Other