Wackojack Posted February 7, 2009 Report Share Posted February 7, 2009 [hv=d=w&v=n&w=sj9763ha6dk743cq6&s=s54h97dj96caj10542]266|200|Scoring: IMPP 1NT P 2NTP 3NT [/hv] The 1NT was alerted as 12-14. The 2nt response was alerted as a minor suit take out. Partner leads 3♥ to 7 Ace and 4. You return the 6♥ to declarer's jack and partner's king. Partner returns 8♥ to declarer's queen, dummy discarding ♠4 and you 3♦. Declarer then plays ♣9, partner following with the 7 and dummy plays the 2. You have a very simple choice? What is it and why? Would your assessment of your partner's experience and ability make any difference to your choice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finch Posted February 7, 2009 Report Share Posted February 7, 2009 Would your assessment of your partner's experience and ability make any difference to your choice? Yes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vuroth Posted February 7, 2009 Report Share Posted February 7, 2009 This is all about needs, isn't it? Declarer has at least 2 clubs, and is in a 18-20 point 3NT. He needs clubs to run. Declarer bid 1NT, so either has 2 clubs or 3. If declarer has 3 clubs, clubs are running. So I need partner to have K87 in clubs. If I take the queen now, declarer can finesse the king later for entry to the board. In fact, declarer would HAVE to, because he needs clubs to be 3-2. If I duck now, declarer won't be able to get back to the board to run clubs. Or at least, it doesn't look like he can. I'm vaguely worried that partner has an ace, and the Tx of hearts waiting to be cashed. Certainly, it looks attractive to lead spades through north. But in the end, if clubs aren't running, I think we're beating declarer no matter what. V Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerclee Posted February 8, 2009 Report Share Posted February 8, 2009 The NS hands: [hv=d=n&v=n&n=skxhqjtxdaxxxck9x&s=sxxhxxdj9xcajtxxx]133|200|Scoring: IMP[/hv] :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wackojack Posted February 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2009 [hv=d=w&v=n&n=sak102hqj54da52c93&w=sj9763ha6dk743cq6&e=sq8hk10832dq108ck87&s=s54h97dj96caj10542]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv]Here is the full deal. West played the Queen, so the contract duly made when declarer got in with a top spade and finessed again. Easy to see now that both east and west in their turn, could have defeated the contract. I understand the "yes" given by Francis, and the :mellow: by Roger, but will still put this question perhaps to the less advanced. If both east and west were of equal ability do they share the blame equally? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sceptic Posted February 8, 2009 Report Share Posted February 8, 2009 if pard was a beginner or low intermediate, he has no blame to shoulder, he is learning, explain why and move on to next hand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiddity Posted February 10, 2009 Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 If West should always duck the first round in this situation, it seems to follow that if he plays the Q, declarer should always go up with the ace on the second round (playing him for KQ tight). But if declarer will always go up with the ace, then West should occasionally play the Q... In a strong game, will expert Wests tend to randomize their play here, or will they always tend to duck and just give up on KQ-tight? Or should East always save him the trouble by going up with the K on the first round (and if so, is he in turn giving up on some other holding)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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