My weekly mistake

[kgr]

[hv=d=s&v=n&n=sq3hxxdaqjxxckjxx&w=sajt9542hajtxdxcx]266|200|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

Your RHO opens 1C and bidding goes:

(1C)-4S-(4NT)-P

(5C)-All pass

4NT: Minors

You lead Spade A: SA, S3, S7, S6 (You signal low-high)

What do you play next?

[Winstonm]

I guess partner would play the 7 from 7, 78, or 7K so that isn't a help. Assuming declarer holds no more than 5 clubs, he doesn't have 11 tricks (the entries aren't there to draw 3 rounds of trumps, take the pitches on the diamonds, and reverse dummy.)

 

I continue with the spade J.

 

If it turns out declarer holds: Kx, Qxx, Kx, AQxxxx - well, I've been wrong before.

[matmat]

[hv=d=s&v=n&n=sq3hxxdaqjxxckjxx&w=sajt9542hajtxdxcx]266|200|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

Your RHO opens 1C and bidding goes:

(1C)-4S-(4NT)-P

(5C)-All pass

4NT: Minors

You lead Spade A: SA, S3, S7, S6 (You signal low-high)

What do you play next?

cash the heart ace. if p encourages, continue, if p discourages, i lead a spade.

 

p could also be signalling with the 7 from K76, btw.

[kgr]

I continue with the spade J.

What is your reason for doing this?

[kgr]

cash the heart ace. if p encourages, continue, if p discourages, i lead a spade.

Maybe partner has ♠Kx and ♥Qxx and encourages the Heart thinking you have 8 Spades and H AKx? Or is this impossible?

 

p could also be signalling with the 7 from K76, btw.

Partner can encourage from doubleton (He has to play low from doubleton because otherwise you think he has singleton) or Kx or Kxx.

[Winstonm]

I continue with the spade J.

What is your reason for doing this?

Unless I am missing something, there is no way to tell the spade holdings from the play of the 7.

 

I play the spade J because:

 

1) Partner could hold a singleton and I want to give suit preference for the return.

2) Partner could hold the spade K, and I want to give suit preference for return.

3) If declarer holds only 5 clubs, he can't come to 11 tricks unless I blow one, so the spade Jack under these circumstances is passive.

4) I don't have enough information to "know" a switch is in order, and as there are 3 cases when a spade continuation works and only 1 case where a heart switch works (parnter holds King), I simply take the best odds.

[Guest Jlall]

Maybe partner has ♠Kx and ♥Qxx and encourages the Heart thinking you have 8 Spades and H AKx? Or is this impossible?

With AKx you would shift to the king. Even playing A from AK, in the middle of the hand it reverts to K from AK since you may play an unsupported ace. Besides with AKx you would have led it at trick one.

[kgr]

I continue with the spade J.

What is your reason for doing this?

Unless I am missing something, there is no way to tell the spade holdings from the play of the 7.

 

I play the spade J because:

 

1) Partner could hold a singleton and I want to give suit preference for the return.

2) Partner could hold the spade K, and I want to give suit preference for return.

3) If declarer holds only 5 clubs, he can't come to 11 tricks unless I blow one, so the spade Jack under these circumstances is passive.

4) I don't have enough information to "know" a switch is in order, and as there are 3 cases when a spade continuation works and only 1 case where a heart switch works (parnter holds King), I simply take the best odds.

I also returned ♠J and opps made 5 Clubs (5clubs, 5 diamonds and a Spade).

Your pnts 1 and 2 are not really valid. If you play ♥A and partner discourage then you can still play another S.