Haunting 3NT

[Gerben42]

This hand has some interesting points and I would be interested in your thoughts:

 

[hv=pc=n&s=sq32hkt54dak2c983&n=skj96hq7d86cajt42&d=s&v=b&b=7&a=1dp1sp1np3nppp]266|200[/hv]

 

First, the auction had some interesting points. Playing better minor I opted for 1♦, although 1♣ would have in fact worked better (see below). Then partner had to decide between 1♠ and 2♣. Whatever you do, you end up in 3NT from South.

 

♦ Q 6 9 (discouraging) 2

 

You decide to duck the first ♦, and curse yourself for not opening 1♣ as opponents would have probably told you how the ♦ break. Can't help that now.

 

♦ T 8 7 A

♣ 3 Q A 5

♣ 2 7 8 ♥2

 

As expected, the Queen was singleton. You're not sure if you can trust the first discard signal as everything should be clear for the defence anyway. How do you continue?

[bigbenvic]

If D are 4-4 we are done for aren't we, lose 2D, AS AH and KC. so to make this we need them to be 5-3 and we need to not let west in.

 

I think the T♦ is more significant. I'd want to know more about my opponents, however for this I will make some assumptions. The T shopuld be a signal to show a ♥ entry as the J would suggest a ♠ entry.

So I'm playing for split aces, W to have the H and playing a small H to the Q. If that holds I will play a H back to the T so as to knock out W entry. If he has AJ I think I'm cooked. Hopefully he had Axxx and he is forced to win and exit a D.

 

Now I go back to clubs and cross my fingers.

[benlessard]

Its not a good spot to trust EW signals. In case like these making a SP signal before the suit is established is begging for getting your entry bumbed too early. But agaisnt the average player ill trust the T from JT and play H.

 

Edit--yet east can easily play high clubs at trick 3, .. so im not sure about anything ill need to think more about it.

[billw55]

It may be a silly question, but why should the ♦T be a suit preference signal? I thought it was just standard to lead the bottom of the sequence if you continue the suit, to tell partner how solid your holding is.

[jschafer]

♥ to the Queen is my line. I will trust LHO's signal for ♥s.

[phil_20686]

I dont understand the comments, if west has the heart ace he can just duck twice, so you have to play for him for one of Axx and Axxx precisely. That doesnt seem like good odds. Also, you might just go off trivially when rho has both aces and wins the Q and plays another heart.

 

Think that its obvious to play for west to have the spade ace. Play the spade Q now from hand.

[Gerben42]

Hi Phil, I started as you did, ♠Q and ♠J both won their respective tricks, both opponents following low-high.

In retrospect, ♥ might have worked but a great player suggested playing ♣ to the K right away.

[bluecalm]

but a great player suggested playing ♣ to the K right away.

 

You mean after 2 spade tricks or immediately ?

[cherdano]

As expected, the Queen was singleton. You're not sure if you can trust the first discard signal as everything should be clear for the defence anyway. How do you continue?

If everything is clear for the defense, then why didn't RHO go up with the ♣K and continue diamonds? I would say there are two possibilities:

 

1. RHO is fooled by your opening bid and thinks there is no future in diamonds. That suggests putting him in with a club right away, maybe he will switch to a heart and we can play for the major suit aces to be divided.

2. RHO wasn't fooled but there was actually no future in switching to diamonds for the defense. Either diamonds split 6-2, or RHO has all the high cards. That suggest putting setting up our club tricks first.

 

The strike against 1. is that even if it's not clear for RHO that diamonds will set up enough tricks for the defense, he may still exit a diamond as this is his most passive option.

[Gerben42]

You mean after 2 spade tricks or immediately ?

 

Immediately. BTW that would have worked as ♦ were indeed 6-2.

[AlexJonson]

Good, we know diamonds are 6-2, so how do you make nine tricks against good defence. You play clubs, I play clubs, and what next?