A 2nd lead problem

[Kalvan14]

[hv=d=n&v=n&s=sqj93hq75da984cq3]133|100|Scoring: MP[/hv]

 

The bidding is quite simple and straightforward.

N E S W

P (5♣) P P

X All P

 

You decide to lead the A♦, to have a look at dummy. Pard plays the ♦K, and declarer a small one.

What do you play at trick 2, and why?

 

[hv=d=n&v=n&w=sak765hkj842d76cj&s=sqj93hq75da984cq3]266|200|Scoring: MP[/hv]

[Guest Jlall]

diamond...partner cant encourage diamonds more than by playing the king. I have no reason not to play a diamond here. If pard wants a spade ruff or something crazy he can play the DQ but given his X this doesnt seem possible. If declarer is going to ruff then he cant pitch all his hearts unless he's 111-10.

[Winstonm]

As a passed hand it's hard to visualize this double...but if pard meant it as lead directing I don't see it unless opener is 4018. Seems more likely partner is balanced with 4441 pattern or 4432. He cannot hold the heart A, the KQ of diamonds and the A of clubs as a passed hand. Best estimate is that he holds:

 

xxxx, Axxx, KQJx, x.

 

and opener holds:

 

void, x, xxx, AKJxxxxxx.

 

I lead a second diamond to give partner the count just in case opener is:

 

void, void, xxxx, AKJxxxxxx.

[mikeh]

looks like your partner felt that your pass of 5♣ was a forcing pass :lol:

 

The choices are a ♥ or the ♦4.

 

The ♥ is wrong when declarer is 2=0=2=9 and partner has the (impossible, since he passed)♣A or King or when declarer is 2=0=3=8

 

The ♦ is almost foolproof: I cannot think of a layout on which it is fatal: surely partner can read my 4 and deduce the ♦ count. The exception seems to be declarer being 1=1=3=8, and partner fearing 2=0=3=8. His trump switch costs an extra undertrick but not the contract.

 

So I play a small ♦.

 

I confess that I am looking forward to seeing why this is wrong.

 

BTW, I am assuming that partner will not have wild shape: with 11 or 12 red cards, he should not be passing as dealer and not be doubling 5♣, so I am not worrying about declarer being 1=1=1=10 or 4=0=1=8

[Robert]

Hello everyone

 

Passed hand doubles at the five level should be lead directing much like a passed hand double of a 4 major contract. You cannot have the defensive values to double for takeout so these doubles have a lead directing meaning or you are looking at QJ109x of their trump suit. :lol:

 

The double says that opener does have 4 spades so I give partner a spade ruff. My spade holding will get another trick after partner ruffs the first spade. If declarer plays a high spade at trick one, I could get two tricks.

 

If partner does not have a spade void, you should suddenly remember a previous engagement right after this hand is over. Doubling an opening 5m bid with A AK is just not good bridge.

 

Regards,

Robert

[Kalvan14]

[hv=n=sxxhatxxxdkqjxcxx&e=stxhdxxxcakt98xxx]266|200|[/hv]

 

Well, it was not a top competition, my partner thought that it was protecting me, and frankly the lady who opened 5♣ was not a top performer either.

OTOH, there is no right return this time.

Even if you return a spade the lil lady wins in dummy, play the K♥, and ruffs your partner ace. Then plays diamond. You have to play back clubs, otherwise a ruff in dummy is the 11th trick, but on the run of the clubs you are squeezed between spades and Q♥.

So I played a diamond, giving count, and pard played back clubs. The lady wnt to dummy in spades, but now the count of the hand is clear enough, and when she played a small heart pard did not put on the ace. A lucky escape.