Hanoi5 Posted June 1, 2009 Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 All red, it goes: 1NT-3NT [hv=d=e&v=b&n=sqthqjtdk862ckj74&w=s943ha9876dat4c32]266|200|Scoring: IMP[/hv] You lead your 4th best heart, dummy wins partner plays the ♥5, declarer ♥3. A small diamond is played from the table to the 7 (upside-down count), Q and... How do you defend? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vuroth Posted June 1, 2009 Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 Wild speculation hidden Partner has 3-5 HCP. I can't picture which 3-5 HCP can ensure the defeat of the contract outside of the K♥. What bothered me was why partner, with Kxx♥, didn't win trick 1 and return. I think the answer is that, if partner has 5 HCP, then we rate to have 6-8HCP from his perspective. At trick 1, he would know we have the A♥, leaving us with worst case 2HCP outside of ♥ - a dubious entry. At a guess, partner has something like QTx♣, and played low in case his probable club entry came good, at which time he could cash the K♥ then play his third ♥ to us. V Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickRW Posted June 1, 2009 Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 I think your speculation may be right. But more to the point, can't declarer hold something like: AKxxxQxxxAQxx In which case he has 3 spade tricks, a heart in the bag already, 4 clubs and is about to steal his ninth in diamonds if you don't rise with the ace? Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hackenbush Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 I win ♦A and return ♥6. This caters to partner holding ♥K, or 3 hearts plus ♣A. In the latter case, we're hoping declare has only 3 spades, 2 hearts, and 3 diamonds off the top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiddity Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 You specified upside-down count but didn't specify attitude conventions to the first trick. I'm assuming standard. If East has the HK, why didn't he play it? If he has 3 hearts without the K, why did he (apparently) signal encouragement? I don't understand the entry argument - if he had Kxx, he could win the HK and play a second round for partner to take or duck as needed. At least that doesn't leave West in the dark. Depending on opening lead agreements, maybe East is worried about losing his K to a doubleton HA in declarer's hand - if the H7 could be led from 97xxx for example. On the other hand, perhaps declarer has Ax K432 Qxxx AQx and is falsecarding, hoping West can't find the spade switch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdonn Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 On the other hand, perhaps declarer has Ax K432 Qxxx AQx and is falsecarding, hoping West can't find the spade switch. Bingo. I think there is no chance partner has the heart king since he should count on us to duck the second round, him ducking and hoping we could read the situation is partnership torture. On the other hand I see no reason a layout like this one you suggest couldn't be the case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilkaz Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 On the other hand, perhaps declarer has Ax K432 Qxxx AQx and is falsecarding, hoping West can't find the spade switch. Bingo. I think there is no chance partner has the heart king since he should count on us to duck the second round, him ducking and hoping we could read the situation is partnership torture. On the other hand I see no reason a layout like this one you suggest couldn't be the case. Agreed that PD cannot (or really shouldn't) have the K♥. As for the way declarer is playing his spots..if he always plays them in order, the opps will find it much easier to count and signal. However, if this is an easy defense for what is posted here in B/I I really need to play in easier games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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