how to defend

[twcho]

An interesting hand from Gov BI Cup final[hv=d=w&v=b&n=sq52h9752d952ct74&w=sathqt8dt843c9862]266|200|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

Bidding went as follows:

P P 1H 4S

P P X All P

 

You lead H8, partner's K is ruffed by declarer. Declarer lead SJ, plan your defense.

[inquiry]

First, south is not bidding 4♠ on a seven card suit headed by the ♠J9, so there is no worry of dropping partners singleton KING. What did partner have for his double?

 

Six hearts is proven. AKJxxx, at most one spade, possibly none. WE are going to win one trick in spades, none in hearts, so we need three in the minros. If partner is kind enough to have AK, AK, we are golden. Even AK A in the minors will be enough. But what if partner is somethiong like AKx KQx? That should be enough too. Give South 7-0-3-3 or 7-0-4-2 he can avoid his minor losers. If partner is AQx AQx, there could be problems, and if he is AKx KJx we are in trouble unless his clubs are KJx, where my nine is useful.

 

So the really the problem hands is where delearer can lead through partner twice to something. I will duck the spade JACK for two reasons. I will get to see hwat heart partner thows on the second spade (or the first spade) so I will know what to lead next. Second, declerer might duck the spade and ducking will keep him from having two entries to dummy if he does. IF he continues a second spade, I win the spade ACE and see what card partner pitches. If it is a low ♥ I will lead the ♣9, if it is a high heart, I will lead a diamond. I assume partner will discard where he needs to build tricks. I assume partner has two or more honors in both minors, but I guess he could have AKQ in one of them.

[mike777]

Partners K of H should be suit pref for clubs! That means, AK of D and KQ of clubs.

In any event time to start trusting partner and helping her out Win Ace now and play club :)

[inquiry]

Partners K of H should be suit pref for clubs! That means, AK of D and KQ of clubs.

In any event time to start trusting partner and helping her out Win Ace now and play club :)

Intersting conclusion... playing King form AK when partner leads the suit not only tries to win the trick, but it is also suit preference... curious.

[mike777]

I think on this hand and bidding yes 100%.

[inquiry]

I think on this hand and bidding yes 100%.

You are just too good for me... Sometimes the king of hearts is just the king of hearts. And for me. this is the case here. Partners NEXT HEART will be suit preference, hence one of the two reasons to duck the ♠JACK.

[PMetsch]

I think there is no reason to play an active defense. Declarer can not get rid of any loosers, there is no useful discard or squeeze/endplay possible. So duck the spade (who knows?) and keep playing hearts, to give nothing away.

[han]

There is no possible suit holding where we can gain by playing the suit instead of letting declarer play the suit out of hand. We cannot prevent declarer from reaching dummy twice if declarer guesses right, but if we duck then declarer will likely misguess.

 

So basically, I completely agree with Ben's analysis. We have to duck, and we have to do it smoothly. When playing online, you can just say "sorry, phonecall".

[mike777]

Agree that getting to see partners discard on a second spade would be very nice.

Hopefully p will discard on the first one and they will help us out.

If p does follow suit, I guess I am worried about never getting a second spade played and declarer has some hand that will make now. Granted I cannot visualize that hand, and perhaps it does not exist, but that is my concern :).

[inquiry]

Well, I for one am not hoping partner discards on the first spade, that gives declearer 7 spade tricks on his way to 10... I am hoping spades are 7321.....

 

As for no endplay? Are you sure? You got nothing, zippo. And partner with a great heart suit did not open 2♣. What is the best he can have.. surely, I was kidding whien I said AK AK in the minors.. rifht? That would be...

 

x

AKJxxx

AKx

AKx

 

Come one... we all open that 2♣.. not just me... Start weaking it a little, how about...

 

 

x

AKJxxx

AQx

AKx

 

Nope that will not do either....

 

x

AKJxxx

AQx

AQx

 

I open 2♣ how about you? Now you see the problem... Can he even be something like this?

 

x

AKJxxx

AQx

KQJ

 

Maybe, but not playing with me. So whatever parnter has he MIGHT BE ENDPLAYABLE. That is why I mentioned trying to build our tricks. Realistically, I think he is more likely something like...

 

x

AKJxxx

KJx

AQx

 

But then south will win 2♣, 2♦ and 6♠ with overtake of the spade jack, or the endplay on partner when he strips partner down to size after one ♣ lead through him to his JACK and then eventually execute a strip squeeze (vulnerable stopper) by forcing partner down to stiff club ACE and three diamonds. What ever partner has in the minors he will be vulnerable to a number of possible endplays.. all of the vulnerable stopper variety since there is no entry to dummy. I wish I had dummy's club ten... as partenr would be able to keep hearts and throw a club maybe then.... as it is, I provide only the ♦Ten as some modest help.

[Al_U_Card]

I hope that pard will be pleased with my defensive trick, but I know that everything in the world is finessable thru pard's hand, so I will do my best to not allow declarer to get to the board (or have me lead thru pard for him).

 

Despite my ability to duck smoothly when it is time to rise with an ace (uncanny it is) I will rise with the ace and play back....a spade. Just trying to stay out of trouble.

[Fluffy]

Partners K of H should be suit pref for clubs! That means, AK of D and KQ of clubs.

In any event time to start trusting partner and helping her out Win Ace now and play club :)

Intersting conclusion... playing King form AK when partner leads the suit not only tries to win the trick, but it is also suit preference... curious.

This is true only when playing second ♥ if allowed is obvious.

[twcho]

[hv=d=w&v=b&n=sq52h9752d952ct74&w=sathqt8dt843c9862&e=s6hakj643daj6cqj3&s=skj98743hdkq7cak5]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

It will be fatal if you think before ducking the SA or take the first trump trick with Ace.

 

After winning the 2nd trump presuming south misguessing the trump situation (or else there is no story), it is not easy to realize that returning a H will be fatal. The reason is that if you lead the 2nd round of H, East will be squeezed in the end position (which was actually what happened at the match).

 

You have to return a C to protect your 2 winning H tricks intact to save your pd from being squeezed. If the HT and H9 were interchanged, there will be no defense.

 

This is a real cool position that I have never come across before. And west have to know to return a C rather than a D.

 

I'm not sure whether east can deduce that pd leading a C is the only successful line when he tried to discard on the 2nd S to give the suit preference signal to his pd.

[mike777]

edit

[Guest Jlall]

oK I will ask why does it hurt to win Ace of trumps and return club at trick 3 as I suggested? Do not see the position problem at end? Do not see any endplay as Partner plays ace of d early?

If you pop, declarer has 2 entries to dummy (SQ and S5). He can use those to lead up to the diamonds twice.

 

If you duck (smoothly) declarer may play you for T6 doubleton. Playing the ten from that would be unusual, but possible. However if you are capable of doing that, you are capable of ducking Ax too, so declarer should still guess (restricted choice). But if he does misguess and play for stiff ace off, you will be able to set the contract. The point is to give them a chance to go wrong, any chance is better than none at all.

[Guest Jlall]

edit

oops...i replied to your post too fast lol.

[oldgun]

duck SA ,wait declarer make mistakes.

 

if he guess right,4s is makeble.

[inquiry]

You have to return a C to protect your 2 winning H tricks intact to save your pd from being squeezed. If the HT and H9 were interchanged, there will be no defense.

I seriously doubt this is true. To "squeeze" east, even in three suits, there has to be an entry to dummy AFTER the squeeze card. The squeeze that works in a vulnerable stopper squeeze, which is a method to overcome dual defects in a squeeze. 1) No entry to the hand opposite the squeeze card (last trump), and 2) too many losers (in this case two).

 

Both EAST and WEST can throw their hearts to their hearts content. But the ♦Jack is vulnerable.

[han]

It seems that there really is a strip squeeze Ben. Early in the hand declarer plays a diamond to the king, Then if east throws all hearts south cashes A-K of clubs and throws east in for a diamond trick.

[inquiry]

It seems that there really is a strip squeeze Ben. Early in the hand declarer plays a diamond to the king, Then if east throws all hearts south cashes A-K of clubs and throws east in for a diamond trick.

Ah... twcho was correct.. .there is a three loser vulnerable stopper squeeze that requires EAST to keep a low heart for an exit card and if dummy keeps the 9x of hearts, WEST needs both the Q and T to stop the squeeze from working with three losers. Nice.