Defensive problem

[xx1943]

[hv=d=n&v=n&e=sjhqj865dkj2cj953&s=s10762hak9da1087cq7]266|200|Scoring: IMP

N    E   S   W

1♠   p  2N  p

4♠   p   p   p[/hv]

1) Declarer takes your ♥Q lead in dummy, partner contributes the 7.

2) small ♠ from dummy to declarers Q, partner produces the 3.

3) Declarer plays ♣A partner contributes the 2.

4) Declarer leads ♠Q to partners A while you discard a ♥.

5) Partner plays the ♥10 taken in dummy.

6) ♣Q is ruffed in declarers hand.

7) Declarer leads a ♠ to ♠10, partner follows suit while you discard another ♥.

8) Declarer follows suit when he leads ♥9 to your J while partner discards ♣4

 

Here you may look the play interactive.

 

Now it seems you are endplayed:

1) ♥ is triple void and allows declarer a ruff and discard.

2) ♣ is double void and allows declarer a ruff and discard.

3) ♦ seems the best hoping that partner holds the Q.

 

What do you play and why?

 

Advanced and experts as usual please answer HIDDEN.

[Finch]

Although I agree there is a clearly correct answer, perhaps this would be better posed as a declarer play problem, because I think declarer should make the contract anyway.

[vuroth]

What was my club discard?

 

If declarer has an exact count, I don't see how he can misplay this. But if I gave an incorrect count in clubs, maybe declarer thinks I have 0-2 more clubs?

 

I agree that declarer has the Q♦ for his bid. Declarer and dummy are both 1040 now. Both sides need diamond tricks - we need 2, declarer needs 3.

 

Partner has 0023 and I have 0131.

 

If I lead the J♦ and declarer plays me for having only 2, declarer will duck to the queen and make.

 

If I lead the K♦, declarer makes straight off.

 

The play of the 2♦ seems inconsistent with the club count we've given. The only reason I can think of for playing this way is if I have the K2, since leading the King is so obviously wrong. This might entice declarer to play the ace, then duck a diamond to my presumed king, which would be great.

 

But why wouldn't I play a heart then? Club is right out, as it gives the miscount away. Declarer is always taking the 4th diamond round, so giving a ruff and sluff is meaningless.

 

But how does declarer play a heart exit, with a presumed 3-2 diamond split the other way?

 

If partner is KJx, I *think* declarer wins in dummy, cashes the ace, then runs a diamond towards the queen. This also works with Kxx in west, but fails when I hold Kx. (An immediate diamond to the queen endplays me AGAIN, but declarer shouldnt' do that if he thinks I have 2 diamonds.)

 

Blargh.

 

...

 

I think my best play is to exit a heart, and hope declarer misguesses.

[y66]

Heart, conceding ruff/sluff.

 

I think declarer is 5341. If pard has Qx of diamonds, we're always getting 2 diamond tricks. If declarer has Qxxx, won't he play ace then small to the queen?

[vuroth]

Curious as to the answer, and declarer's "best line".

[Trumpace]

I think the answer is to not return a ♦. It is probably better to return a heart as declarer knows that you have it and it won't give him any extra information.

 

Declarer's best line is to ruff in dummy, throwing a ♦ from hand, then play a ♦ to Q, planning to play a ♦ to T later (after coming in with his last trump).

 

(Frances had started a thread in the A/E forum about declarer's best play: http://forums.bridgebase.com/index.php?showtopic=30680)

[vuroth]

Well I'm at least glad to see that they're not finding the diamond endplay trivial either.