[Hanoi5]

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I think the double is wrong, probably a thing of the moment. My question is on the defense:

Playing UDCA, you lead the ♥K and then ♥A, which asks for the count (is that correct in this situation?), declarer plays the ♥T & ♥4.

What would you play if partner plays:

1st Trick-2nd Trick
♥3-♥9
♥2-♥J
♥9-♥J
♥3-♥J
♥2-♥3
♥2-♥9

Or maybe it doesn't matter? What do you play to the third trick?

[inquiry]

There are three ways to raise to 3♥ over 2♥, each showing something different. Fit nonjump at three level, 2NT, and the direct raise. It would be nice to know if these other two raises were available so we could make an accurate guestimate at what partner could hold for his raise.

Carding issue. With four hearts (2-3-x-x) my partner would start with the 2. So when the 3 is played, partner must hold J-3-2, or 9-3-2 (less likely). The heart 2 is the four card suit. I guess there could be some exceptions to this if 3♥ absolutely positively promised four card support. But I can't see any reason if the ♥K promises four card support not to play the correct ♥2, although I am sure someone will have a good reason to play the wrong card.

So here we go...starting with ♥2.

♥2 - 3 = I have club ace, go for it and lead ♣K
♥2 - J = I have ♦A or maybe singleton (less likely). Lead a high diamond
♥2 - 9 = no top card in either minor. Declarer has ♦A and only 2♥, so worry about ♣ winners going away. Lead ♣K


♥3 - 9, or ♥3 - J show no ♣A (since club shift seems NATURAl, so this is a warning not to lead a club. Since declarer has, probably, 7♠ and 3♥ plus club values (AQ), play him for singleton ♦ and lead ♠A and a ♠.
♥9 - J play same as ♥3 - ♥J

♥3 - 2 (not given as option), try ♣King

If 3♣ had been fit non-jump, any hope of finding partner with ♣A is out the window, of course. If 3♦ had been fit non-jump, even if partner shows ♦A, play ♠A and a ♠ since he would need the ♦AJ for the fit non jump.

[cnszsun]

At the 2nd trick, maybe we should play ♥Q rather than A to imply values in ♣? Is this treatment common among experts?

[Zelandakh]

Based on your agreeemnt of count as the first signal, I would expect the second card simply to be a suit preference marker here.

3-9 does not exist, since if East had started with J932 the count signal would have been the 2, whereas if East had started with 932 or J93 the count signal would have been the 9.

2-J shows J932 and an interest in diamonds.

9-J shows J9x and an interest in diamonds.

3-J shows J32 and an interest in diamonds.

2-3 shows J932 and an interest in clubs.

2-9 shows J932 and no preference for either minor.

[jogs]

I never understood the purpose of all these count signals.
On this auction doesn't pard hold exactly 3 hearts 99+% of the time?

[cherdano]

jogs, on 2013-May-22, 15:55, said:

I never understood the purpose of all these count signals.
On this auction doesn't pard hold exactly 3 hearts 99+% of the time?

Nope, he holds 4 hearts 32.7% of the time.

[lowerline]

I would have lead the Q to get an attitude signal. If partner shows the J, I will play the 6 next, asking for a club switch.

Steven