[Phil]

Scoring: MP

1N - all pass.

---

The defense went like this:

1. 4th best spade, x, T, A
2, 3, Club AK
4. Heart to K
5. Club to Queen.

Now, West plays the ♦Q and a diamond to east's King.

East cashes the ♦A, setting up the Jack and the 9th trick.

-150 was a lousy score. -120 would have been about average.

Was a clear error made anywhere?

[karlson]

I blame east.

If west had Qxx, he can afford to lead low. East will know that declarer will score the DQ if he has it regardless of what he does, so he can afford to lead back a small one. Presumably declarer doesn't have 2-2 in the minors.

Also east should probably know that declarer has 4 diamonds if west gave count on the heart.

[karlson]

East might also get it right if west has Qxx for another reason -- he may play declarer for QTx and a misguess by winning the ace and returning low. West of course knew east had ♦AK already and will have no problem.

[pclayton]

karlson, on Apr 22 2009, 06:35 PM, said:

I blame east.

If west had Qxx, he can afford to lead low. East will know that declarer will score the DQ if he has it regardless of what he does, so he can afford to lead back a small one. Presumably declarer doesn't have 2-2 in the minors.

Also east should probably know that declarer has 4 diamonds if west gave count on the heart.

I was West BTW. From my perspective we could possibly cash out for -90/-120 if pard held ♦AKJx(x). The ♥Q should be in the other hand as the ♦J, assuming pard has the ♦AK.

OTOH, from East's perspective, cashing out for 4 tricks would be prudent if Declarer held Axx AJxx Jxxx AK for instance.

So I confess I don't have an answer here.

[gwnn]

Are you shooting for 10 thousand after all?

[pclayton]

gwnn, on Apr 23 2009, 08:33 AM, said:

Are you shooting for 10 thousand after all?

ROFL, I didn't notice. I'm on my Dad's laptop and I guess pclayton is the auto login.

I changed the password and I don't even remember it.

I think if you combine the two users I'm at around 9900.

[se12sam]

1. I guess East gave a count signal on the first club.
    In that case, how problematic is it for West to jettison the ♣Q on the third trick? I realise that the count signal does not eliminate a singleton with East and declarer can hold ♣AKJx but this is unlikely.
    If East does have a singleton club and ~10-11 HCP, he will act in the fourth seat (with DONT, CAPP etc -- your system for two suited hands)

2. If West allows East to win the third club, East will not find a need to cash out immediately and will continue with the ♠J.
    Or does it still not solve East's problem?

[gnasher]

I think East should discourage on the first diamond. That might cost if declarer has Axx AJ10x Jxxx AK, but that hand might have upgraded, and for it to cost after a spade continuation declarer would have to be willing to risk going two down - he has to throw his diamond guard, then finesse into the hand that has a spade winner.

[MFA]

Everything is ok until east cashes the last diamond. Just play a heart at this point. If declarer has AJ he will get the problem right there. Cashing out is correct only if declarer's hearts are AJTx or AJxxx and he is about to finesse. Very unlikely.

[MFA]

AJxxx is especially unlikely

[pclayton]

MFA, on Apr 23 2009, 02:09 PM, said:

Everything is ok until east cashes the last diamond. Just play a heart at this point. If declarer has AJ he will get the problem right there. Cashing out is correct only if declarer's hearts are AJTx or AJxxx and he is about to finesse. Very unlikely.

No, because east gets squoze in the reds for 10 tricks if declarer is Axx AJxx Jxxx AK.

[655321]

pclayton, on Apr 23 2009, 07:32 PM, said:

MFA, on Apr 23 2009, 02:09 PM, said:

Everything is ok until east cashes the last diamond. Just play a heart at this point. If declarer has AJ he will get the problem right there. Cashing out is correct only if declarer's hearts are AJTx or AJxxx and he is about to finesse. Very unlikely.

No, because east gets squoze in the reds for 10 tricks if declarer is Axx AJxx Jxxx AK.

East can't be squeezed in the reds when South has no entry.

[pclayton]

655321, on Apr 23 2009, 04:44 PM, said:

pclayton, on Apr 23 2009, 07:32 PM, said:

MFA, on Apr 23 2009, 02:09 PM, said:

Everything is ok until east cashes the last diamond. Just play a heart at this point. If declarer has AJ he will get the problem right there. Cashing out is correct only if declarer's hearts are AJTx or AJxxx and he is about to finesse. Very unlikely.

No, because east gets squoze in the reds for 10 tricks if declarer is Axx AJxx Jxxx AK.

East can't be squeezed in the reds when South has no entry.

Only if he shifts to a heart. edit: I see that above

[MFA]

pclayton, on Apr 23 2009, 07:47 PM, said:

655321, on Apr 23 2009, 04:44 PM, said:

pclayton, on Apr 23 2009, 07:32 PM, said:

MFA, on Apr 23 2009, 02:09 PM, said:

Everything is ok until east cashes the last diamond. Just play a heart at this point. If declarer has AJ he will get the problem right there. Cashing out is correct only if declarer's hearts are AJTx or AJxxx and he is about to finesse. Very unlikely.

No, because east gets squoze in the reds for 10 tricks if declarer is Axx AJxx Jxxx AK.

East can't be squeezed in the reds when South has no entry.

Only if he shifts to a heart. edit: I see that above

The point of the heart return is to close the issue right there. If he doesn't commit to a heart finesse with AJ there is no play at all for the 9th trick.