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Defending 3NT


gnasher

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[hv=pc=n&n=s5haqjt64daqck752&e=saqt92h9dk984ct96&d=e&v=b&b=4&a=ppp1h1s1np3n(See%20text)ppp]266|200[/hv]

There was some doubt about whether 3NT promised long hearts or could be 18-19 balanced. Declarer thought that it showed the former, but wasn't certain.

 

You're going to have live with English leads. Partner leads 7, which could be from K87, J87, 87x, 87xx or 7x. How would you defend?

 

Edit: Sorry, I meant to put this in Interesting Bridge Hands - I'm not trying to exclude anyone from the discussion.

 

Further edit: IMPs.

Edited by gnasher
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I'm not going to cater to partner's possible K87. We can't run the suit immediately on that layout, and declarer will have side values to compensate for the lack of a true stopper: he may well hold the heart K and club A, making defence impossible.

 

So I want to assume declarer holds the spade K. I think I need to find out if he also has the J, so I will play the 9 at trick one.

 

What I do later depends on how declarer plays and precisely what cards partner shows, assuming that we play some form of smith such that he can clarify his spades a tad.

 

Hmmm...If I am allowed to hold this trick, I continue with the Q, which would get partner unblocking the J if he has it, and won't set up a quick second winner for declarer if declarer holds KJxx(x).

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I'm not going to cater to partner's possible K87. We can't run the suit immediately on that layout, and declarer will have side values to compensate for the lack of a true stopper: he may well hold the heart K and club A, making defence impossible.

 

So I want to assume declarer holds the spade K. I think I need to find out if he also has the J, so I will play the 9 at trick one.

 

What I do later depends on how declarer plays and precisely what cards partner shows, assuming that we play some form of smith such that he can clarify his spades a tad.

 

Hmmm...If I am allowed to hold this trick, I continue with the Q, which would get partner unblocking the J if he has it, and won't set up a quick second winner for declarer if declarer holds KJxx(x).

If your 9 wins, presumably declarer has Kxxx. In that case, he will let your queen win as well. He knows you don't have AQJ109x, becase you didn't open 2.

 

What will you do when your queen holds, and what layout are you playing for?

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yup. that's why I would play low to partner's jack, hopefully he can see the need for a diamond switch

If we're playing for that, is there anything we can do to help him? I wonder if playing 10 followed by 9 would be a good idea.

 

Also, when partner leads 7, it's not that likely that he has J. There are six ways he can have 87x or 7x, and only one way he can have J87. If declarer has KJxx(x), what can or should we do?

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If declarer has the KJ (highly likely) and the A, he is cold - five hearts, two clubs, on spade and one diamond. To beat it, I think need partner to have the AJ or the A and the diamond jack (I am assuming pard has the K, obviously).

 

If I win and play a club, we are OK in most cases. The T should do, and I am toying with the nine. But maybe I should switch to a diamond, since if pard has the AJ we should still beat them. I can also set it even if partner has the bare bones - xx Kxxx xxxx Axx - I did not need a jack in partner's hand, after all.

 

Overtricks be damned - a diamond it is!

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