[catch22]

Scoring: IMP

---

P-1NT-P-2H
P-2S-P-P
X-3S-4H-4S
P-P-P

♣K 8 2 6
♣5 9 A 7
♥Q

♣2 is encouraging

What was the worst play?

How should the defence go?

[catch22]

Sorry ♣2 is standard count on K leads

[Codo]

This single worst play for the defence was the double of 2 ♠.
This may work but I think that north had the wrong hand for this. He is closed to balanced and south couldn´t act above 1 NT.
The 4 Heart bid is very aggressive too and may lead to some problems while defending 4 Spade- or by going for a number.

The lead of the king of club was very aggressiv. I had lead a heart for a safe one down. Okay, you survived you lead, but this is more luck then good bridge.

To continue the suit is reasonable, even if a switch isn´t out of the world.

Now north juged, that he has not too many possibilities to gain the lead again, so he thought it is a good idea to finesse through declarer right now. He was afraid, that some loosers may go away on a possible diamond suit from declarer.
He did not believe in a 4HEart bid on txxxx, so his thinking was wrong but reasonable.

[paulg]

Hard to see how a club return can be wrong. Partner would not have continued clubs if there was a danger of establishing discards, and would only lead the ♣5 from ♣KQJ54 ... which seems unlikely.

Declarer should have dropped the ♣Q as ♣KJ754 was a possible holding, although even now a club continuation is unlikely to cost.

North's fault.

BTW I think South's double of 2♠ is automatic.

Paul

[Codo]

cardsharp, on Sep 24 2007, 09:36 PM, said:

Hard to see how a club return can be wrong. Partner would not have continued clubs if there was a danger of establishing discards, and would only lead the ♣5 from ♣KQJ54 ... which seems unlikely.

Declarer should have dropped the ♣Q as ♣KJ754 was a possible holding, although even now a club continuation is unlikely to cost.

North's fault.

BTW I think South's double of 2♠ is automatic.

Paul

1. North doubled. Far from automatic with a 2443 hand at imps.
2. south 1552 hand does not look like an "autoamtic" double either.
3. Why did south switch? If he wanted to cash clubs, he could have cashed one or two more. He has the count of the suit, north has not. So to play a low club instead of the queen must have a sense. Which one?

[pclayton]

This is a rather difficult problem. I think South painted the wrong picture for North when he reopened with a double instead of 2N.

You can logic out the club return by North, but once the ♣K wins, South might consider cashing the ♦A at T2. If pard does have the ♣A, this leads to a 100% set. The problem with this is if the ♦AQ are the setting tricks it looks rather foolish if declarer was holding up with Axx (you mentioned the K is a count lead right? I might consider changing these methods) and Declarer's hand is: ♠Kxxx ♥AKx ♦Kxx ♣Axx.

[kenrexford]

ROTFLOL!

There are so many humorous aspects to this issue. My favorite is the well-timed pip falsecard from Declarer.

[cherdano]

cardsharp, on Sep 24 2007, 06:36 AM, said:

Hard to see how a club return can be wrong. Partner would not have continued clubs if there was a danger of establishing discards, and would only lead the ♣5 from ♣KQJ54 ... which seems unlikely.

Declarer should have dropped the ♣Q as ♣KJ754 was a possible holding, although even now a club continuation is unlikely to cost.

North's fault.

Maybe South continued clubs because he needed hearts to be lead from the other side? So North is switching to hearts to get -2? I doubt I would read partner for a lead from Kx on this auction.

[CSGibson]

The worst defensive play by far is the king of clubs at trick one. Why would you lead a doubleton trying to get a ruff without a spade trick, when the 1NT bidder is likely finnessing clubs into your hand? Make an attitude lead of the 7 of hearts; there's no need to be a "genius" by leading a king doubleton.

[lowerline]

catch22, on Sep 24 2007, 05:47 AM, said:

Scoring: IMP

---

P-1NT-P-2H
P-2S-P-P
X-3S-4H-4S
P-P-P

♣K 8 2 6
♣5 9 A 7
♥Q

♣2 is encouraging

What was the worst play?

How should the defence go?

South. He should have lead the "normal" heart...