[kgr]

Scoring: MP

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1♣-(1♠)-Pass-(3♠)-All pass
South leads ♣8 and North takes ♣A and returns ♥A.
What is the best way for South to signal if he started with a singleton ♣?
Do you have agreements here to signal that you want a ♣ or a ♦ return if it is clear that a ♥ continuation cannot be good (is it clear enough here)?
PS: on the 1st trick we play obvious switch

[mich-b]

I think the defense can solve this hand following this logic :

1. Trick 2 - North plays the ♥K (not the Ace), and South signals count (Since attitude has become irrelevant when the King holds).
2. Trick 3 - if North is not sure which minor he should play now , he can cash the ♥A (Which he now knows is cashing), and South uses his two remaining ♥ spots to show suit preference between ♣ and ♦.

In the given hand , South would play ♥4 (assuming std count) trick 2, and ♥8 (asking for ♦) trick 3.

Hope this answers your question...

[kgr]

Suppose signalling is important on 2nd trick.
My partner suggested:
- If it is not clear that opening lead suit should be returned or not.
AND
- partner plays a new suit in 2nd trick for which attitude does not make sense.
THEN
Play Lavinthal.
(Instead of lavinthal it is also possible to encourage 2nd suit, which discourages 1st suit and asks 3th suit; Or discourage 2nd suit, which asks 1st suit).

[gnasher]

Giving count on the first heart won't work if declarer has a singleton heart, and we need to distinguish between AKQJx x Kxx KQxx and AQJ10xx x xxx KQx.

The obvious way for North to solve his problem on this hand is to cash ♦A at trick two. If South wants a club ruff, he discourages; if he has ♦K, he encourages. That might save declarer a guess with KJ, but declarer would normally play for opener to have the ace anyway.

If North does switch to a heart at trick two, South uses the same approach - discourage hearts if you want a club ruff, and encourage if you don't. You can achieve the same effect by playing suit preference, but that just means unnecessarily complicated agreements and ambiguity.

[Fluffy]

Double 3 spades with north's hand and your troubles are over.

I like everything mich said, playing ♥K is something much more important than how to signal clubs (wich is often done discouraging on the other suits).

[Jlall]

discourage the suit partner plays if you want a ruff seems like a WTP...

[kfay]

gnasher, on Jul 9 2009, 06:29 AM, said:

Giving count on the first heart won't work if declarer has a singleton heart, and we need to distinguish between AKQJx x Kxx KQxx and AQJ10xx x xxx KQx.

The obvious way for North to solve his problem on this hand is to cash ♦A at trick two. If South wants a club ruff, he discourages; if he has ♦K, he encourages. That might save declarer a guess with KJ, but declarer would normally play for opener to have the ace anyway.

If North does switch to a heart at trick two, South uses the same approach - discourage hearts if you want a club ruff, and encourage if you don't. You can achieve the same effect by playing suit preference, but that just means unnecessarily complicated agreements and ambiguity.

Agree with this. Anyway the ♥A is the worst card to lead because partner will ALWAYS discourage... lead the ♥K on defense!!!