Counting opponent's hand

[Fluffy]

It's often easy to deducee opponent's distribution from the bidding early on the play (sometimes on the bidding is also possible), here is a quick example just happened tomy father:

 

 

[hv=d=w&e=s842hq3da1062caj63&s=s95hkj84d843ckq74]266|200|Scoring: MP

W - E

1♠-1NT*

2♦-3♠

4♠-ps[/hv]

 

Partner leads the ♣9 (3rd-5th).

 

Not its easy to deduce declarer has 3♣, and since has rebid 2♦ to the forcing 1NT he has to have more ♦ than ♣, so declarer has 5143 or similar with void in ♥.

 

After winning ♣Q you decide a passive deefence is in order and switch to either a ♥ or a ♠.

[Fluffy]

Now it is probably a good time to haave a look at the full deal:

 

[hv=n=s10xxxha10xdkxxc98x&w=sakqjhxxxxdqjxc10x&e=sxxxhqxda109xcajxx&s=sxxhkjxxdxxxckqxx]399|300|[/hv]

 

You can often misscount for 1 card for opponents making a decision on the bidding such as bidding ♦ as best minor with 3-3, but misscounting THREE cards, well daddy said it was his first time ever.

[Gerben42]

Sorry I disagree with your analysis. As is apparent from the full hand you are playing 1st 3rd 5th, i.e. leading HIGH from 3 small. In this case partner can have 3♣ and declarer then has 2, making possible a wide range of distributions, for example 5242 or 5332. Now I wouldn't have guessed 4432 either but to conclude declarer is short in ♥ is premature.

[Fluffy]

Nobody knows the ways of the sponsor ;)