[rduran1216]

I think 1NT is the hardest contract to play, especially in hands where your side doesn't necessarily have the balance of power.

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North opens 1C, you bid 1NT, and it goes all pass.

West leads the 3 of spades, 10 A 2
spade back to K small small.

How do you proceed?

[nige1]

rduran1216, on 2010-November-06, 10:44, said:

I think 1NT is the hardest contract to play, especially in hands where your side doesn't necessarily have the balance of power.
North opens 1C, you bid 1NT, and it goes all pass.
West leads the 3 of spades, 10 A 2
spade back to K small small.
How do you proceed?

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Playing dummy's ♠T may be a mistake. IMO, now, you should adopt Granny's little-known safety-play that ensures you never lose to a doubleton queen: ♦AK and another hoping for round suit re-entry to hand.

[pooltuna]

rduran1216, on 2010-November-06, 10:44, said:

I think 1NT is the hardest contract to play, especially in hands where your side doesn't necessarily have the balance of power.

---

North opens 1C, you bid 1NT, and it goes all pass.

West leads the 3 of spades, 10 A 2
spade back to K small small.

How do you proceed?

not sure if it is technically correct but there is a lot to be said for 3 rounds of diamonds and that means not taking the finesse. This handles 4-1 diamonds best and also catchs all Qx holdings. As for onside Qxx holdings, playing it this way may make the other side help you when they have to lead

[mikeh]

at the risk of thread-jacking, why did S bid 1N? Looks like an easy 1♦ and let partner rebid 1N if he has a flat minimum. Of course, if you bid up the line, responding 1♦ can lead to problems over a 1♠ rebid, but that's what comes of inferior methods

Meanwhile, if partner has a big hand, the odds are good that playing 3N from his hand will be better or equal to playing 3N from your side.....I see this 'grab 1N' all the time.

[mtvesuvius]

mikeh, on 2010-November-07, 11:54, said:

at the risk of thread-jacking, why did S bid 1N? Looks like an easy 1♦ and let partner rebid 1N if he has a flat minimum. Of course, if you bid up the line, responding 1♦ can lead to problems over a 1♠ rebid, but that's what comes of inferior methods

Meanwhile, if partner has a big hand, the odds are good that playing 3N from his hand will be better or equal to playing 3N from your side.....I see this 'grab 1N' all the time.

I agree in principle here, however I think this is a classic 1N call. Protecting Kx♠ and Jxx♥ is important, and I think this is a hand that clearly wants to be played from the South hand. I definitely don't like bidding 1♦ here, not happy when partner has something like Txx AKx KQxx xxx or something. Worse yet when partner has a 2N rebid.

[OleBerg]

mtvesuvius, on 2010-November-07, 17:22, said:

Protecting ...Jxx♥ is important

LOL

[mtvesuvius]

xxx AQx KQxx JTx

Need I say more?

[OleBerg]

mtvesuvius, on 2010-November-07, 17:48, said:

xxx AQx KQxx JTx

Need I think more?

Yes

[rduran1216]

I got an absolute zero in a club game for playing AK diamonds and another diamond. Since the diamonds were Qxx onside and RHO had the A of clubs, and the Q of hearts is in the right spot. I just wanted to know how bad my line was, but apparently it was a semi-common choice.

[mfa1010]

Most will probably play it from north, and that might be a lot easier. For instance, heart lead to Q and K, ♦AK and another, heart back. Likely 8 tricks then.