defensive problem

[straube]

So the auction starts with a Polish club...

 

1C P 1D (1S)

2S P 3H P

3N

 

2S is alerted as 18+. A suit bid other than 2C would also show 18+.

 

Partner leads the ST and I'm looking at...

 

.........dummy

.........Q95

.........JT73

.........J98

.........JT7

AJ762

AQ

K7532

8

 

So declarer covers with the SQ and I take the ace. Right so far? Now what?

[Phil]

It seems partner cannot have more than a King or so. I suppose I'd ask 1) what the expected length is for 3♥? (and does it promise any values?), 2) what is a 2N call over 1♠.

 

My first reaction was ♦, wtp? A possible hand is K8x, Kxx, Ax, AKQxx.

 

Can we beat this hand by going passive if declarer holds something like: K8x Kx AQx AKxxx? No, declarer can use the club entries to finesse me is necessary.

 

What about: K843, Kxx, AQx, AKx? Messy little hand for declarer. If I exit the club, declarer wins and not blessed with second sight, will play the ♥K. I'll win and I'm stuck on lead again. If I cash the heart, that gives declarer 2♠ + 2♥ + 2♦ + 2♣, and I have to provide him with a 9th trick. if I don't cash the heart and exit a spade or a diamond, declarer will win in dummy, and finesse a pointed suit, knock out the heart, win the another trick in the suit we exited in at T4, and eventually squeeze partner in the round suits.

 

This is a pretty specific example, but it also seems fairly representative.

 

In the end, I don't think I accomplish much by going passive, so I'm back to a low diamond at T2.

[straube]

Thanks. I should have inquired about the meaning of 2N. The full deal...

 

.....T83

.....K954

.....T64

.....943

 

K4.........Q95

862........JT73

AQ.........J98

AKQ652.....JT7

 

.....AJ762

.....AQ

.....K7532

.....8

[Phil]

So declarer has 6♣ + 1♠ + 2♦. Was this matchpoints or something?

 

Be sure and thank partner for geniusing the lead.

[straube]

So declarer has 6♣ + 1♠ + 2♦. Was this matchpoints or something?

 

Be sure and thank partner for geniusing the lead.

 

imps :(

 

I was wondering about the lead. With T9x I would expect the T. With T8x I honestly don't know.

[wyman]

With T8x I honestly don't know.

 

x.

 

Count is so important.

[Phil]

imps :(

 

I was wondering about the lead. With T9x I would expect the T. With T8x I honestly don't know.

 

Without a lot of detailed analysis, low from T8x is right. Imagine dummy with Qx instead of Q9x for instance.