Just a guess?

[MrAce]

If you finesse before playing the spades, you still make if it is wrong and hearts are blocked. Given that the opponents are experts, why don't we play this way? If the spades split 3-3, north probably has a singleton diamond anyway.

 

 

 

.....Perhaps declarer should not have tested ♠ suit at the first place, under these assumptions.

 

Yup.

 

Here is another case for finesse; If we believe that N had AJxxxx ♥ and thought we had KQxx and played a ♣ from T9x, a careless North may continue to make a mistake.

 

How ?

 

Simply he may think ♣8 was from KJ8, and he may plan to score 1♥+♦Q that he won+2♣+1 good ♠ that he knows his pd has. I said careless North because if that was the case declarer would safely give a ♠ to South and score 2♥+4♠+1♣+2♦.

[phil_20686]

No real expert plays smith echo when is it time to give attitude in a side suit. Maybe you understand mechanics of this convention (btw, used when declarer plays some neutral suit), but you do not understand bridge.

 

I honestly think its quite delusional to think that the weak two opener will never need to diagnose the heart position here. Suppose these were the layouts, [hv=pc=n&s=st875hk86dt9cqj86&w=skq962h75daj62c75&n=sa3hat9432d73ct92&e=sj4hqjdkq854cak43]399|300[/hv][hv=pc=n&s=st875h6dt94caj865&w=skq962h72daj62c72&n=sa3hat9543d53ct93&e=sj4hkqj8dkq87ckq4]399|300[/hv]

 

In both cases north with switch to the club ten, in both cases declarer will win and play a spade to the ace. North must decide whether to continue hearts or continue clubs. You do not wish him to be guessing if this is a smith peters or attitude situation. It can be your agreement that if partner wins your lead and switches at trick two, then smith peters is off. It is a sensible agreement. But it is also sensible to just play smith peters all the time. On routine hands like these both will work. What will not work is if north has to work out whether south things that this is or is not a situation where smith peters applies.

[whereagles]

Does this have a solution?

[lamford]

In both cases north with switch to the club ten

I assume you mean "will", but in the second example you give, I would not lead the singleton heart, as a club looks a good alternative. And for both examples, I would not open a weak two or multi with two aces. Mind you a very strong player did so on Axxxxx none A10xx xxx last night in the London Super League, so what do I know?

 

I have never encountered Smith Peters when the defence switch at trick two, as I think attitude in the new suit is too important.

[MrAce]

I honestly think its quite delusional to think that the weak two opener will never need to diagnose the heart position here. Suppose these were the layouts, [hv=pc=n&s=st875hk86dt9cqj86&w=skq962h75daj62c75&n=sa3hat9432d73ct92&e=sj4hqjdkq854cak43]399|300[/hv][hv=pc=n&s=st875h6dt94caj865&w=skq962h72daj62c72&n=sa3hat9543d53ct93&e=sj4hkqj8dkq87ckq4]399|300[/hv]

 

In both cases north with switch to the club ten, in both cases declarer will win and play a spade to the ace. North must decide whether to continue hearts or continue clubs. You do not wish him to be guessing if this is a smith peters or attitude situation. It can be your agreement that if partner wins your lead and switches at trick two, then smith peters is off. It is a sensible agreement. But it is also sensible to just play smith peters all the time. On routine hands like these both will work. What will not work is if north has to work out whether south things that this is or is not a situation where smith peters applies.

 

 

In first hand Declarer would have to drop ♥J at trick one (he didnt in the OP) , on hand 2 it may not be clear for everyone but i wld expect a good declarer false card of his choice and pretend like he has KQ KJ QJ doubleton ♥

[Poky]

I honestly think its quite delusional to think that the weak two opener will never need to diagnose the heart position here. Suppose these were the layouts, [hv=pc=n&s=st875hk86dt9cqj86&w=skq962h75daj62c75&n=sa3hat9432d73ct92&e=sj4hqjdkq854cak43]399|300[/hv][hv=pc=n&s=st875h6dt94caj865&w=skq962h72daj62c72&n=sa3hat9543d53ct93&e=sj4hkqj8dkq87ckq4]399|300[/hv]

Wrong.

 

In the first case partner will return a heart, because:

a) overcaller could hold KQ (or KJ) tight;

b) logic of leads;

c) restricted choice principle.

 

In the second case partner will never lead a heart because it is so obvious club is the lead with the best expected value, far ahead the heart lead.