Defend 3NT

[Poky]

Bidding: 1NT-2NT-3NT; lead: ♥10; signaling: UDCA

 

[hv=d=s&v=n&n=sq63hq74da964cj53&w=sk95h1096dq75cq1087]266|200|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

1. ♥10 ♥4 ♥2 ♥J

2. ♥3 ♥6 ♥7 ♥A

3. ♥5 ♥8 ♥9 ♥Q

4. ♦4 ♦3 ♦J ♦Q

 

What do you return and why?

[mikeh]

Partner holds a big black card, but not as good a holding as AJxx♠: there are insufficient points left outstanding (BTW this is one reason that in my imp partnerships, I prefer never inviting 3N without a major: I just bid 3N as North, rather than allowing the defenders to know if opener is max or min).

 

If partner holds the ♠A, then we are going to have problems. We cannot return a ♠ without setting up a trick and I cannot switch to a ♣ without letting declarer win the J in dummy (unless he is 4=4=3=2)

 

A neutral ♦ exit might do it, but of course declarer might have the J10x♠. And if partner does not hold the ♠A, declarer can lead a ♠ towards the Q (or simply hook through his AJx(x).

 

On the other hand, if partner has Axxx Axx or K9x(x) in ♣, I have a good exit in the ♣10. the 10 is necessary on some layouts to prevent me getting strip-squeezed when declarer cashes his red winners: I may need to end ♣ in partner's hand and have him lead a ♠. Plus leading the 10 minimizes the strain on partner if he holds K9x :rolleyes:

 

BTW the endings can be complex, so i am not attempting to cater to all of the possibilities in this post.

[mike777]

3 of D should be suit preference. You play UDCA but do not state whether you play upside down suit pref. as meckwell does? So, Ten of club if you play standard, spade if you play upside down.

[luke warm]

i'd lead the ♣10 cause it's the only way i see to beat it

 

if playing udca, the ♥2 didn't ask for the 'obvious' spade switch, so that's another reason

[Finch]

I have to admit that a heart would have been my 4th choice of suit to lead.

[whereagles]

I think I'm going to lead the ♣10, playing pard for Kxx of clubs. If I don't do this right now, declarer will have time to setup the ♠Q as 9th trick.