[Mbodell]

Rotated for convenience, and there were many boards that could win this match, but this is an interesting one where there were lots of chances not to lose the match (-1 IMP on the board is good enough to win match).

Scoring: IMP

P (by system, denies 10 HCP) - 1♣ - 2♣ (michaels) - 2♦
4♠ - 5♣ - 5♠ - 6♣
P - P - P

---

T1 ♥K 2 Q 9
tank
T2 ♥A (claimed making 6)

[jillybean]

Why did North continue ♥'s, what is their signaling?

[ArtK78]

This is a cash out situation. South's signal should be a count signal. I cannot tell from the play of the Queen whether it was or was not, so I cannot assign the blame. If NS are playing standard signals, then 100% to North. If not, then 100% to South.

I once lost a GNT match in a similar situation. I have not got it wrong since then.

By the way, the idea of blameing your teammates who played in 5♣ making 11 tricks off two cashing aces is absolutely beyond bizarre.

[quiddity]

Assume the count signal was correct. From North's perspective, is it possible for South to hold doubleton Qx?

[sfi]

I would take the signal as attitude since South is the one who has a much better idea of which trick to cash than North does. South needs to play the most discouraging heart at trick one to get a spade switch, and the queen doesn't look like the right one.

North might still get it wrong, but North will definitely continue hearts after an encouraging signal.

[jillybean]

sfi, on Jul 25 2009, 11:56 PM, said:

South needs to play the most discouraging heart at trick one to get a spade switch, and the queen doesn't look like the right one.

It is if they play UDA

[sfi]

jillybean, on Jul 26 2009, 05:01 PM, said:

sfi, on Jul 25 2009, 11:56 PM, said:

South needs to play the most discouraging heart at trick one to get a spade switch, and the queen doesn't look like the right one.

It is if they play UDA

Clearly they weren't though. Otherwise North would have switched.

[the hog]

With that dummy, the Q of H screams for a S shift.

[jillybean]

sfi, on Jul 26 2009, 12:03 AM, said:

jillybean, on Jul 26 2009, 05:01 PM, said:

sfi, on Jul 25 2009, 11:56 PM, said:

South needs to play the most discouraging heart at trick one to get a spade switch, and the queen doesn't look like the right one.

It is if they play UDA

Clearly they weren't though. Otherwise North would have switched.

Perhaps, unless North knew better. Can't vote without knowing agreements.

[jdeegan]

Was it Beavis? Or was it Butt-head? Unless Beavis is deaf, he knows from the auction a second ♥ won't cash. All Butt-head can do is give a suit preference signal to deny a ♦ void. I would imagine the ♥ queen would do.

Oops. Looked at the hand and thot I bid 4♥. Actually a good problem. I would try the ♥ jack. Its wake up and shows count.

[se12sam]

IMO this has nothing to do with N/S carding agreements. The trick lies in the bidding.... When South passed as dealer, he denied 10 HCP (per OP condition). Therefore, the ♥Q has to call for a spade lead. West cannot be void in spades.

If West was void in ♠, then South would hold ♠AKQT94 and he has shown ♥Q. This is more than 10 HCP and is inconsistent with a first seat pass.

100% blame to North.

[FrancesHinden]

se12sam, on Jul 26 2009, 10:13 AM, said:

IMO this has nothing to do with N/S carding agreements. The trick lies in the bidding.... When South passed as dealer, he denied 10 HCP (per OP condition). Therefore, the ♥Q has to call for a spade lead. West cannot be void in spades.

If West was void in ♠, then South would hold ♠AKQT94 and he has shown ♥Q. This is more than 10 HCP and is inconsistent with a first seat pass.

100% blame to North.

This one is silly. Why can't South have KQxxx QJx in the majors?

I am astonished at some of the comments here.

At jillybean says, it is impossible to assign blame without knowing the NS agreements about signalling. South can't suddenly decide to give a suit preference signal if North was expecting to see a count signal.

So if the NS agreement is that a king lead against a slam asks for normal count, South played the correct card.

If the NS agreement is that a king lead asks for normal attitude, then (i) North should have led the ace, and (ii) South should have discouraged.

[mich-b]

I think that South could have done better in the bidding, by bidding 4♦ showing he holds BOTH majors.
Then they surely would not get this defense wrong, and would be better placed for 5 level decisions.

[A2003]

6♣ bid is based on singleton suit somewhere.
Looking at dummy, ♥ singleton is possible, so ♠shift.

If South has KQxxx QJx in the majors?
With QJx ♥, Play J♥ indicating another trick in ♥available to set.
This is playing standard signal.
Playing Q♥ to show the possession of J♥ is not important, since only one more trick needed to set.
If South has QJ♥ stiff, still plays J♥.
Unusual high/low cards should be reserved for obvious shift somewhere principle.
Anyway, this is my opinion.

[TimG]

A2003, on Jul 26 2009, 08:55 AM, said:

With QJx ♥, Play J♥ indicating another trick in ♥available to set.

How does south know that north has 5 hearts instead of 6? After the play of the Jack, north will "know" that declarer has the Queen and a second heart will cash.

It seems to me that North should have made whichever honor lead asks for count and south should give honest count.

[TimG]

ArtK78, on Jul 26 2009, 12:48 AM, said:

By the way, the idea of blameing your teammates who played in 5♣ making 11 tricks off two cashing aces is absolutely beyond bizarre.

Isn't that standard practice for the final poll option?

[A2003]

TimG, on Jul 26 2009, 09:28 AM, said:

A2003, on Jul 26 2009, 08:55 AM, said:

With QJx ♥, Play J♥ indicating another trick in ♥available to set.

How does south know that north has 5 hearts instead of 6? After the play of the Jack, north will "know" that declarer has the Queen and a second heart will cash.

It seems to me that North should have made whichever honor lead asks for count and south should give honest count.

By playing J♥, it implies No A♠,
This is in relation with number cards in dummy.
If you have 6 card ♥ with no A♠, they can make 6♣ anyway.
Honoest count is not helpful here.
How many tricks available in ♥ and A♠ location is the only issue, I think.
Q♥ should show A♠.

[Phil]

Michael: If you are playing at this level (and congratulations on getting to the semis btw), you need to have a good agreement about A/K leads. Many play the K at the 5 level and higher asks for count.

So, say you lead the K.

You didn't mention originally if you are playing UDCA. If standard, the Q definitely shows the J and an even number. North still might get it wrong and play South for QJ dub, but its better than no agreement.

Playing UDCA, you have a similar problem. Q should definitely be stiff Q or QJx.

If anyone suggests that South could have bid something other than 4♠ to bring hearts into the picture (and to make the defense easier), lets say I don't agree. Something fancy like 4♣ or 4♦ gives the opponents an extra call.

By the way, don't include options like "our teammates fault for stopping in 5♣". Even if you are kidding (I hope you are), such comments are beneath you.

[bid_em_up]

Phil, on Jul 26 2009, 02:17 PM, said:

If anyone suggests that South could have bid something other than 4♠ to bring hearts into the picture (and to make the defense easier), lets say I don't agree. Something fancy like 4♣ or 4♦ gives the opponents an extra call.

Who cares? Which is more important, giving them an extra call, or allowing our side to judge our assets properly in the bidding and defense?

By bidding 4C or 4D (when we have those bids available), we let partner know that we are on a double fit. This can be a major difference in judging whether we want to defend or take the sacrifice. Even taking a "phantom" sac in 6M wins the board, when our teammates properly stopped in 5C. Additionally, if partner knows we have a double fit, the QH becomes a clear demand for a spade switch (in standard suit preference methods), making it another reason to show both fits.

Personally, as South and having failed to show both suits at my first chance, I would bid 6H over 6C anyway. North's bid of 5S should either show extra distribution or extra strength (or both). 6M is unlikely to ever be more than minus two and thats still a good sac over 5C and a great sac over 6C (when its making, legitimately or otherwise).

jmoo.

[Stephen Tu]

Strongly agree with Frances, as I often do. Std carding is lead of K from AKx at 5 level or above = COUNT. South can't decide to use something else based on his heart length since North has no idea.