Not Too Difficult Defence Or Is It?

[The_Badger]

Again aimed at the intermediate level players here (Advanced/Expert if solved please use a spoiler. Thanks) You lead the ♣A against the rather unwieldy contract of 5♠, partner plays the ♣4 (count) and declarer the ♣2. You have a decision to make at trick 2. The clues are there. What card do you lead next? IMPs

 

[hv=pc=n&s=s5ht982dt98cak865&w=sk732hakjdakjcqjt&d=e&v=n&b=2&a=3sp4d(Agree%20spade.%20Slam%3F)p4s(Sign-off)p4n(I%20feel%20optimistic)p5c(Zero%20aces)p5s(4NT%20was%20stupid)ppp]266|200[/hv]

[Cyberyeti]

Depends partially on your agreements, if my partner had 9743 he'd play the 7. But that said, this is obvious for other reasons

[Tramticket]

 

Partner has the ♠A, so our tricks are ♣A, ♠A and we need one more.

 

As Cyberyeti says, the ♣K must be standing up - who plays the 4 from 9743?

 

But if we think logically, the trick can't come from anywhere else. Declarer has six spade tricks once the ace is dislodged and must have at least one red queen to justify the bid, so will be able to take five red suit tricks. There is no risk in playing the king of clubs.

 

 

[rmnka447]

 

Partner has the ♠A, so our tricks are ♣A, ♠A and we need one more.

 

As Cyberyeti says, the ♣K must be standing up - who plays the 4 from 9743?

 

But if we think logically, the trick can't come from anywhere else. Declarer has six spade tricks once the ace is dislodged and must have at least one red queen to justify the bid, so will be able to take five red suit tricks. There is no risk in playing the king of clubs.

 

 

 

 

 

I don't see where East, especially white vs. red, couldn't bid 3 ♠ with just QJ10xxxx and out. So maybe East doesn't have any red suit Q. Heck, in this day and age I've seen players preempt with a lot less.

 

But unless North has a stiff ♣, there's a fool proof way of being sure you get your ♣ trick without risking East having a stiff ♣ and setting up a discard for East on the ♣ Q. Lead your ♠ and give North the ♠ A. North can return a ♣ and East can't afford to not trump when holding a stiff as you'll score your ♣ K. If East ruffs, you retain the ♣ K to prevent a pitch. When East has a second ♣ or more, your K will stand up on the third trick

 

 

[nige1]

 

[hv=pc=&e=SQJT9864H3D2C9732&s=s5ht982dt98cak865&w=sk732hakjdakjcqjt&d=e&v=n&b=2&a=3sp4d(Agree%20spade.%20Slam%3F)p4s(Sign-off)p4n(I%20feel%20optimistic)p5c(Zero%20aces)p5s(4NT%20was%20stupid)ppp&p=CKCTC4C2]400|300|

The_Badger writes "Again aimed at the intermediate level players here (Advanced/Expert if solved please use a spoiler. Thanks) You lead the ♣A against the rather unwieldy contract of 5♠, partner plays the ♣4 (count) and declarer the ♣2. You have a decision to make at trick 2. The clues are there. What card do you lead next? IMPs

 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

IMO, in simple cash-out contexts, unless you've specifically agreed something else, partner should signal as crudely and clearly as possible i.e. If he's on our side, partner won't play a subtle ♣4 from ♣9743.

When your ♣K stands up, and partner has played ♣4, you should continue ♣A.

If you switch to ♠s, when the cards lie as on the left, then you end-play partner at trick 2 :(

 

This deal is an advert for half-key Gerber. Over partner's 2/3 level = PRE your 4♣ reply = KEY-ask.

Then 4♦ = Q or less, 4♥ = 1 Key, 4♠ = Key + Q, 4N = 2 Keys. 5♣ = 2 Keys + Q.. [/hv]

[The_Badger]

 

[hv=pc=&e=SQJT9864H3D2C9732&s=s5ht982dt98cak865&w=sk732hakjdakjcqjt&d=e&v=n&b=2&a=3sp4d(Agree%20spade.%20Slam%3F)p4s(Sign-off)p4n(I%20feel%20optimistic)p5c(Zero%20aces)p5s(4NT%20was%20stupid)ppp&p=CKCTC4C2]400|300|

The_Badger writes "Again aimed at the intermediate level players here (Advanced/Expert if solved please use a spoiler. Thanks) You lead the ♣A against the rather unwieldy contract of 5♠, partner plays the ♣4 (count) and declarer the ♣2. You have a decision to make at trick 2. The clues are there. What card do you lead next? IMPs

 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

IMO, in simple cash-out contexts, unless you've specifically agreed something else, partner should signal as crudely and clearly as possible i.e. If he's on our side, partner won't play a subtle ♣4 from ♣9743.

When your ♣K stands up, and partner has played ♣4, you should continue ♣A.

Otherwise, declarer can succeed even when he doesn't hold a red queen

 

This deal is an advert for half-key Gerber. Over partner's 2/3 level = PRE your 4♣ reply = KEY-ask.

Then 4♦ = Q or less, 4♥ = 1 Key, 4♠ = Key + Q, 4N = 2 Keys. 5♣ = 2 Keys + Q.. [/hv]

 

The reason why I added "...Or Is It" in the post is because the distribution you have suggested, Nigel, here could be replicated with North having ♣7 instead of the ♣4.

 

And tie that in with Cyberyeti's comment, that most modern players (including myself) would signal with the ♣7 with four small cards too - though they are some who still use the traditional third lowest followed by fourth lowest peter/echo to denote four cards in a suit - and you could be presented with a dilemma.

 

Obviously, the probabilities of East's exact hand distribution come into the equation as well here too.

[Tramticket]

 

[hv=pc=&e=SQJT9864H3D2C9732&s=s5ht982dt98cak865&w=sk732hakjdakjcqjt&d=e&v=n&b=2&a=3sp4d(Agree%20spade.%20Slam%3F)p4s(Sign-off)p4n(I%20feel%20optimistic)p5c(Zero%20aces)p5s(4NT%20was%20stupid)ppp&p=CKCTC4C2]400|300|

 

IMO, in simple cash-out contexts, unless you've specifically agreed something else, partner should signal as crudely and clearly as possible i.e. If he's on our side, partner won't play a subtle ♣4 from ♣9743.

When your ♣K stands up, and partner has played ♣4, you should continue ♣A.

If you switch to ♠s, when the cards lie as on the left, then you end-play partner at trick 2 :(

 

 

 

I agree with Nige1's post.

 

As a corollary, it must surely be correct for declarer to try and interfere with the message by playing the ♣7 or better still, the ♣9 at trick one. This would sow some doubt that north might have started with ♣7432.