Does this 3NT make?

[KamalK]

[hv=d=e&v=n&n=s54hq52dkt8764ct4&s=sqj63ha74da93caq8]133|200|Scoring: MP[/hv]

 

West North East South

 

 -     -     Pass  1NT

 2♠    3♦    Pass  3NT

 Pass  Pass  Pass  

 

Hello

 

I was South and am still wondering if this could make. East led ♥8

 

(I presumed E held 5 ♠ cards)

 

We went 3NT-1 only 5 MPs :( This 1 board killed our chances in the tourney

 

Thanks, Regards

 

Kamal

[hrothgar]

I don't think that 3NT is a thing of beauty. I think that I'd much rather be in 3♦. But you're playing in 3N so you you do what you can.

 

I'd go up with the Queen of hearts at trick 1. Doesn't seem to do much good to play low. If the Queen wins, you look to have some very real chances.

I'd start by leading a small Diamond to the nine...

 

If the Queen of Hearts gets covered, I'll duck the trick and let RHO lead a Spade through.

 

I expect that someone is going to explain that this plan is crap in the very near future

[jtfanclub]

I expect that someone is going to explain that this plan is crap in the very near future

West is on lead, not East. I'm going to assume that both spades and hearts are breaking 5-2.

 

So I'll duck the first heart entirely. Then I'll duck the first spade back, and cover the next one with the jack (if there is a next one). I'll play the ace of diamonds and duck a diamond to East if West is out or plays a low one.

[kenrexford]

I expect that someone is going to explain that this plan is crap in the very near future

West is on lead, not East. I'm going to assume that both spades and hearts are breaking 5-2.

 

So I'll duck the first heart entirely. Then I'll duck the first spade back, and cover the next one with the jack (if there is a next one). I'll play the ace of diamonds and duck a diamond to East if West is out or plays a low one.

I like this basic approach of ducking the first heart. Ducking the first spade, however, executes a scissors coup on yourself.

 

However, I could imagine losing to the heart 10, then the spade 10, then the spade Ace, and then winning the heart Jack with the Ace. Then, running the diamonds (hopefully splitting 2-2) to end up with ♥Q, ♣10x on dummy and ♠Q, ♣AQ in hand. Nothing interesting here.

 

However, if I had covered the first spade, I would have likely ended up with ♠x, ♥Q, ♣10x in dummy and ♠Qx ♣AQ in hand. I like this better, as now LHO must come down to something like ♠Kx ♣Kx if he has the club King, or he might come down to ♠Kx ♣xx in an attempt to avoid giving away information, or he come down to ♠Kxx ♣K. If LHO has the club King and I work it out, I have him endplayed, so long as I have kept that little spade exit card that I need.

[KamalK]

Thanks very much all.

 

Apologies, yes W on lead not E :)

 

Your suggestions are perfect. I played that badly. Ducked ♥ and then also ducked ♠ which was taken with the 9

 

And yes i suppose 3♦ was where I shd have been.

 

Just for the record, am giving the whole hand.

 

[hv=d=e&v=n&n=s54hq52dkt8764ct4&w=sakt972ht86dq5cj6&e=s8hkj93dj2ck97532&s=sqj63ha74da93caq8]399|300|Scoring: MP[/hv]

 

West North East South

 

 -     -     Pass  1NT

 2♠    3♦    Pass  3NT

 Pass  Pass  Pass  

 

Thanks again to all. Regards

 

Kamal

[Codo]

To fail to make this thin game is no major crime.

But you should discuss with your partner how to bid after your 1 NT opening and their interference.

 

In this case pd has no 3 Diamond bid, he should bid 2 NT (Lebensohl).

[kenrexford]

Even if you duck the first heart but rise with the spade, you will have to decide in the end what is going on with the club King and with the opponents' pitches. But, you may well get it right.