[Walddk]

Scoring: IMP

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A hand from the Danish Premier League last weekend.

Pass Pass Pass 1NT*
2♣** 3NT Pass Pass
Pass

* 15-17.
** majors.

Lead: ♥2 (3rd and 5th).

Low from dummy. How do you defend?

Roland

[cherdano]

I would take and switch to ♠ with my partners. It is right when partner has AJxx Kxxxx xx xx but wrong when he has JTxx Kxxxx Ax xx. But on the latter hand, partner would not bid 2♣ red vs white opposite a passed hand.

[FrancesHinden]

We have to decide whether we need to cash out now (HA and 4 spade tricks), or play for partner to have a minor-suit stop (probably H9 now to keep communications etc).

If partner is, as looks likely, 4522 is it more likely that he has AJxx in spades or a minor suit high card? I'd have thought the former, so I am with the spade players. I prefer to play a low spade, promising an honour, to avoid partner thinking the spades aren't cashing and I have something juicy in the minors.

[Apollo81]

Walddk, on Dec 6 2006, 12:15 PM, said:

Dealer: North Vul: N/S Scoring: IMP

♠ Q6 ♥ Q106 ♦ KJ632 ♣ Q54 ♠ K854 ♥ A95 ♦ 875 ♣ 1087

A hand from the Danish Premier League last weekend.

Pass Pass Pass 1NT*
2♣** 3NT Pass Pass
Pass

* 15-17.
** majors.

Lead: ♥2 (3rd and 5th).

Low from dummy. How do you defend?

Roland

Here's what we know:
- declarer is marked with (probably) the ♥J from his duck from dummy.
- partner is probably 5-5 since he is at unfavorable, doesn't have many HCP, and has poor suits.

This makes declarer most likely 2236 or 2245 most likely. Let's assume for the sake of argument that declarer is 2236, although it doesnt really matter. Now we have to decide if it is more likely that declarer has A9 Jx Qxx AKJxxx or xx Jx AQx AKJxxx. Partner has AJ10xx Kxxxx x xx in the former case and J10xxx Kxxxx A xx in the latter case.

I think partner would have led a spade from J109xx rather than from Kxxxx, so it seems like playing declarer for the ♠A also requires declarer to hold the ♠9. On the other hand, declarer is less likely to have opened 1NT with just a jack in the majors (and only 4-5 major suit cards to boot). I think partner is equally likely to have bid over 1NT with either hand.

My experience has shown that in guess siutations it's best not to make too many assumptions about the opponents' decision making process in the bidding, so I will go ahead and play the ♠K.

[Walddk]

Scoring: IMP

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Well done everyone! At best partner has 8 hcp, and since he overcalled vulnerable against not I think it's fair to assume that he has his high cards in the two suits.

I agree with Justin that once you decide to win the ace and switch to spades, the king must be right in order to avoid confusion if partner has AJ10x(x). If you return a small spade, he might insert the 10. Maybe he shouldn't, but there is no need to give him a problem when we can solve it for him.

The "unlucky" South at the table followed with the ♥9 to trick 1. Thanks very much, said declarer to himself and wrapped up the first 12 tricks.

Roland

[cherdano]

Walddk, on Dec 6 2006, 11:36 PM, said:

I agree with Justin that once you decide to win the ace and switch to spades, the king must be right in order to avoid confusion if partner has AJ10x(x). If you return a small spade, he might insert the 10.

Well, spade king has the risk explained by Frances above (partner has AJ9x and thinks you have ♠Kx). As I know my partner would take a low spade as showing the king (9753 would lead the 7 or 9), I will definitely play low.