lmilne Posted November 26, 2009 Report Share Posted November 26, 2009 I saw this defensive problem last night playing matchpoints. I was South, and thought that this would certainly test many player's abilities. You are dealt this hand as East playing in a fairly weak pairs field, with a less experienced partner than you are used to. [hv=d=s&v=e&s=sq75hak6dkq106ck103]133|100|Scoring: MP[/hv] You hear the auction start (1♥)-pass-(pass). Your current partner has insisted upon 15-17 1NT in balancing seat over 1M - it might not be the best theoretical agreement, but it certainly works here. You bid 1NT. LHO jumps to 3♥, which is passed out (debatable, but I think I would've passed it out as well). Your partner leads the A♣, and this dummy comes down. [hv=d=s&v=e&n=sa6432h42d82c9854&e=sq75hak6dkq106ck103]266|200|Scoring: MP[/hv] The first trick goes A♣, 4♣, 3♣ (reverse attitude), Q♣. The second trick goes 7♣, 8♣, K♣, 3♥. Declarer now leads the 4♦ to the 3 (reverse count), 8, 10. Plan the defence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanoi5 Posted November 27, 2009 Report Share Posted November 27, 2009 ♥A and ♥6. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmilne Posted November 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2009 ♥A and ♥6. If you do this, declarer will play a heart back to your King. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gnasher Posted November 27, 2009 Report Share Posted November 27, 2009 If you do this, declarer will play a heart back to your King. Assuming that declarer had seven hearts, I play back a diamond. Declarer has, at best, KJ QJ10xxxx A9x x. When declarer cashes all his hearts, I keep Q - Q 10, and partner keeps ♠10xx. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmilne Posted November 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2009 If you do this, declarer will play a heart back to your King. Assuming that declarer had seven hearts, I play back a diamond. Declarer has, at best, KJ QJ10xxxx A9x x. When declarer cashes all his hearts, I keep Q - Q 10, and partner keeps ♠10xx. Who guards the clubs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gnasher Posted November 27, 2009 Report Share Posted November 27, 2009 Who guards the clubs? I do. My last three cards are the queen of spades, the queen of diamonds and the ten of clubs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmilne Posted November 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2009 Who guards the clubs? I do. My last three cards are the queen of spades, the queen of diamonds and the ten of clubs.Good work!First thing is lead the two rounds of trump - this is obvious. Second thing is harder - you have to avoid the trap of a ) leading back the third round of clubs at any point and b ) discarding your club at any point. If you do either of these, the club menace will be 'isolated', setting up some squeeze possibilities... [hv=d=e&v=e&n=sa6432h42d82c9854&w=sj98h8d9753caj762&e=sq75hak6dkq106ck103&s=sk10hqj109753daj4cq]399|300|Scoring: MP[/hv] At my table, East drew the two rounds of trumps, then erred by leading the third round of clubs, which I trumped. I cashed the A♦ then ran the trumps to get to this ending... [hv=d=e&v=e&n=sa6432h42d82c9854&w=sj98h8d9753caj762&e=sq75hak6dkq106ck103&s=sk10hqj109753daj4cq]399|300|Scoring: MP[/hv] ... for a sweet double squeeze - the carefully preserved 2♠ was the 13th trick. To make it even more of a shameless brag, East had opted to double the final contract. +530 :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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