a classic

[Vampyr]

 

I think the biggest flaw in the composition is partner's lead of specifically the ♦2 instead of a higher diamond. It is one thing to allow for declarer's mistakes, and entirely another to allow for partner's.

 

Yes, I would rather lose points by trusting partner even when masterminding would have worked. Will be better in the long term.

[Fluffy]

yeah I though leading the jack would make it too obvious, I even switched to put ♦9 in dummy wich wasn´t originally, but had I put ♦10 it would had been even better.

[phil_20686]

[hv=pc=n&s=st942hqt83da3c642&w=s6ha74d954ckqj853&d=e&v=b&b=10&a=1sp2cp2hp3cp3nppp]266|200[/hv]

 

 

You lead ♥3 (4th best) and partner wins ♥K, partner returns ♦2 (attitude) declarer plays ♦Q, how do you defend?

 

I dont really understand this problem I think. If I thought my partner was basically hopeless I would return the heart Q. If my partner can play I would expect him to realise that if he has another heart and the club ace he should return one. Of course, if he doesnt have another heart it might be right to return the heart Q. Again, if I can trust the opps It should be 100% that partner has another heart.

 

Why would a good defender, holding the ace of clubs, return a diamond rather than a heart? Well possibly he expects to be able to set up the diamonds. RHO could be coking it up with Qxx diamonds. I have seen worse bids than 3N on AKQJx Jxxx Qxx A. Of course, if thsi is the hand the Qh works too. If declarer has KQx diamonds and stiff club ace the contract is cold now.

 

might partner reasonably expect me to hold AQx in the diamond suit? perhaps, but if he is playing for that the J is certainly clearer. If declarer holds KQT diamonds and stiff club ace, everything makes sense and partner has found a legitimate defence if he thinks declarer is 2-2 in the minors with Kx. One legitimate answer is that partner has two club tricks, ATxx, and so is saving his heart exit for later. That would make RHO 5440. That makes quite a lot of sense. You might bid 3N on some poor 5440 on the grounds that 3c isnt necessarily any better. In that case a diamond return works best.

 

I can easily beleive that partner might switch to a diamond in good faith as it were hoping that we can run the diamonds, if he has xxx in the clubs suit. On that grounds I will switch back to the heart Q. The whole layout makes perfect sense if rho has KQTD and stiff A clubs.

[dwar0123]

As a B/I player who looked at this hand without reading any comments first, I am leading back the Q♥. The rest of the analyses that would suggest something different is, at the playing table, beyond me.

[vuroth]

Late to the party but....

 

 

2♦ means partner isn't fond of diamonds, right? In that case, why not A♦ then Q♥ to cut declarer's entry?

 

[mike777]

We are told we play att leads so the 2d means partner loves diamonds and has something useful not just length. With only long d he would lead back a higher diamond or maybe even return a h if he had one. Pard can see the long clubs and AH entry issue as well from his side of the table. That is the purpose and gain of playing att. leads.

 

That is why the switch to the 2d of all cards makes this a tough problem.

[Antrax]

Playing standard, 2♦ says partner loves diamonds (as in, would like a diamond return).