4 vs 3. Defending 3NT with clubs

[inquiry]

These are two more swing hands from our most recent BBL match (well, one was a swing missed). In both cases it takes a club lead to "get it", and we start off with a club lead, only to fall flat quickly thereafter. We all can see how the defense could have done better.

 

[hv=lin=pn|benlessard,inquiry,shaztaz,barmar|st%7C%7Cmd%7C3S8TKH56KAD67QAC59%2CS39JH789QD4C26TKA%2CS7QAH24JD23TKC48J%2C%7Crh%7C%7Cah%7CBoard%209%7Csv%7Ce%7Cmb%7Cp%7Cmb%7Cp%7Cmb%7C1N%7Cmb%7Cp%7Cmb%7C3N%7Cmb%7Cp%7Cmb%7Cp%7Cmb%7Cp%7Cpc%7CC6%7Cpc%7CC4%7Cpc%7CC3%7Cpc%7CC9%7Cpc%7CHA%7Cpc%7CH7%7Cpc%7CH2%7Cpc%7CH3%7Cpc%7CHK%7Cpc%7CH8%7Cpc%7CH4%7Cpc%7CHT%7Cpc%7CS8%7Cpc%7CS9%7Cpc%7CSQ%7Cpc%7CS2%7Cpc%7CSA%7Cpc%7CS4%7Cpc%7CST%7Cpc%7CS3%7Cpc%7CS7%7Cpc%7CS5%7Cpc%7CSK%7Cpc%7CSJ%7Cpc%7CDA%7Cpc%7CD4%7Cpc%7CD2%7Cpc%7CD5%7Cpc%7CDQ%7Cpc%7CC2%7Cpc%7CD3%7Cpc%7CD8%7Cpc%7CD6%7Cpc%7CCT%7Cpc%7CDK%7Cpc%7CD9%7Cmc%7C9%7C]400|300|I got off to a low club lead and declarer managed to run home with nine tricks (1♣, 3♠, 2♥. 3♦). We lose 10 imps. [/hv]

[hv=lin=pn|benlessard,gwnn,shaztaz,inquiry|st%7C%7Cmd%7C4STJQKAH5QDQKAC25T%2CS7H36JAD247TC3QKA%2CS3589H79KD356JC89%2C%7Crh%7C%7Cah%7CBoard%206%7Csv%7Ce%7Cmb%7Cp%7Cmb%7C2N%7Cmb%7Cp%7Cmb%7C3N%7Cmb%7Cp%7Cmb%7Cp%7Cmb%7Cp%7Cpc%7CCA%7Cpc%7CC8%7Cpc%7CC4%7Cpc%7CC2%7Cpc%7CH3%7Cpc%7CH7%7Cpc%7CH8%7Cpc%7CHQ%7Cmc%7C9%7C]400|300|Here we get off to the ♣A lead, partner plays the ♣4 (UDCA), then we shift to heart. This time, instead of winning 10 imps (4♣ plus 1♥) we lose 1 imp to 4♠ making four (they make 3nt via 5♠, 3♦ and a ♥. [/hv]

[gwnn]

Correction: we actually won 1 imp on the second board (420-400=+20). At the table, I somehow thought that the ♣4 could show just an even number of clubs, not my brightest moment of the month. In addition, I thought benlessard was purposefully playing the lowest club to try to induce me to continue. A lot of overthinking for giving away 9 imps.

[ArtK78]

I was watching a lot of this match (as much as I could stomach), as my partner was not available and I was not playing. I don't know what happened on these two boards, but they did prevent your team from blitzing ours.

 

I believe that there was one more board where you donated about 10 IMPs to our side.

 

These three boards added up to 31 IMPs to keep the margin in the 30s.

[gwnn]

I believe that there was one more board where you donated about 10 IMPs to our side.

I don't remember very well but I looked it up now, do you mean that we didn't take 10 IMPs where we could have? The biggest swing in your favour was +10 imps in the first hand here.

[ArtK78]

I don't remember very well but I looked it up now, do you mean that we didn't take 10 IMPs where we could have? The biggest swing in your favour was +10 imps in the first hand here.

Since I did not play the match, I don't have the hand records in my database on BBO. I just know that there were three hands where your side donated 10 IMPs. The two hands above were two of them, and there was a third. I believe it was a hand where one of you inadvertently passed with a game forcing hand.

[ahydra]

I'd be interested in barmar's explanation for the duck on the first one :/

 

Second one depends on the meaning of the club 4, of course. I'm never sure what to do with 4 small(ish) cards when partner leads that suit against NT - one should probably encourage, but that could often lead to disasters involving declarer's queen.

 

ahydra

[Phil]

1. Barmar can figure out declarer has one card higher than the 6 and you have 9-11 HCP.

 

a-b) 9 or T - he must rise

c) K - he must duck, but might you lead the T from AT96x?

d) A - he also must duck, but the point in C is valid - also declarer is playing the J at T1.

 

Clear to rise.

 

2. I assume A/Q are attitude and K is power? I prefer the lead of the Q from AKQx. 3rd hand gives attitude with the K or J. Nuff said.

[gwnn]

2. I assume A/Q are attitude and K is power? I prefer the lead of the Q from AKQx. 3rd hand gives attitude with the K or J. Nuff said.

Our cc with inquiry:

 

2/1, udca, 4th vs NT, 3/low vs suits, Landy. Still, from 2 low I shouldn't expect partner to play small.