[pclayton]

Here's one from the 2 session swiss:

Scoring: IMP

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You defend 3N after 1N - 3N. You lead the ♥J, 4, Q, 3.

2. ♥2, A, 8, 5

3. ♠7, 2, A, 3

4. ♣2, 9, Q....

Do you win or do you duck? Why?

[inquiry]

I shouldn;t try this early in the morning. I don't see the problem, I will win the king. Here is my thoughts.

1) Partner had Qx of hearts, giving declarer AKxx. Why? With KQxx of hearts, partner signals with continue rather than overtake in case I have JTx. With KQx partner overtakes and returns king and declarer ducks again most likely. With Qxx partner does not return the 2.

2) Partner has three spades, given declarer 3 (spade signal)

3) Declarer will be 3442, 3433, or 3434. The most logical one based on missing diamonds is 3442, but the nine of clubs suggest a doubleton or singleton club in partner, giving declarer 3433 or 3424 .

4) Partner has from 7 to 9 points. We know about the heart queen and no heart king. We doubt he has KQ-seveth as he might have bid 4D here. But he will have a diamond honor, lets hope for the king. That leaves him with either (at least), the two black jacks, or the queen of spades,

Since this is imps, we are going to try to beat this. Declarers hand is either 3-4-3-3 or 3-4-2-4 If he is 3433 (typical hands guessed to be A-D below), win the club king and return a heart, he can't come to 9 tricks (he will have AQ of club, AK of hearts, and either spade Queen, or diamond King/Queen). If he is 3-4-2-4, he will probably make as our club stopper is vulnerable (run winners, throw us in with heart to force lead from CT7). Same fate awaits us if has diamond king rather than spade queen (after ducking a spade to partner) (hands FG). The only way to set 3NT if he is 3424 is if declarer has doubleton diamond queen and no spade queen or spade jack. On that hand, you have to switch to a diamond to knock out the entry to the second diamond trick and to keep your partner from being endplayed in spades for a diamond away from the king (hand E). Give declarer the spade Jack in hand E and I don't think 3NT can be beat. But in all cases win the cluck king. Returning the diamond jack Since winning the king and returning the diamond caters to only one of the five patterns where I think we can set 3NT, I win the king and return the heart.

Hand A -- Win king, return a heart
Qxx
AKxx
Qxx
AQx

Hand B -- Win king, return a heart

Qxx
AKxx
Qxx
AQx

Hand C -- Win king, return a heart

Qxx
AKxx
Qxx
AQJ

Hand D -- Win king, return a heart

Qxx
AKxx
xxx
AQJ


If Declarer has Four Clubs...
Hand E -- Win king, return diamond Jack
xxx
AKxx
Qx
AQJx

Hand F
xxx
AKxx
Kx
AQJx

Hand G
Qxx
AKxx
xx
AQJx

[pclayton]

My guess is that a lot of players would get this one right, if for only the wrong reasons. Sure it looks right to win the club and clear the hearts.

Ben's inference about the heart suit is correct; pard did hold Qx. I had this hand at the other table. I don't see why pard should be giving true count on the spade suit however.

Declarer actually held: ♠QJxx, ♥AKxx, ♦Kxx, ♣Qx. As you can see, there isn't a play for 9 tricks.

Brian did try a swindle with a club to the Q and the player (a very good one, in fact), DUCKED!

Even if they win the club and lead a heart, both defenders better stay on their toes in the endgame.