[hautbois]

matchpoints

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You lead the K♠, 3, 8, 5. How do you read the 8 and what do you play at trick two?

[ArtK78]

The 8 is the lowest spot that partner holds, so it is encouraging or forced. Partner could have 8, A8, T8, AT8 or A98. He should not have 98, but if he thinks this is a count situation, he might play the 8 from 98 (that would be an error).

The T8 holding is a little iffy. If partner believes that your K lead is from no worse than KQJ(xx), then he would play the 8 from T8.

If you trust East to bid his 4 card spade suit over 2NT (which certainly seems reasonable), partner cannot have a singleton 8. Therefore, continuing low is only wrong if partner played the 8 from 98 for reasons known only to him.

[ahydra]

First things first: 8 is a low card because we can see the 234567.

Next up: what does K ask for vs NT? If it's count, then that shows an odd even number, so declarer has Axx or xxx. If it's attitude then it's encouraging (and partner should have 3 else he would unblock). Either way it seems like continuing spades is safest - I'm hoping declarer has something like ♠Ax ♥AKQxx ♦xxx ♣Axx where he only has 8 tricks. Just based on HCP we can't have 5 winners off the top.

edit: yes, I meant a low spade next (to cater for Axx with partner if nothing else)

edit 2: too much standard count recently

ahydra

[ArtK78]

ahydra, on 2013-June-20, 09:19, said:

First things first: 8 is a low card because we can see the 234567.

Next up: what does K ask for vs NT? If it's count, then that shows an odd number, so declarer has Ax or xx.

Huh?

The 8 - the lowest spot available - shows an even number if it is a count signal.

[ahydra]

ArtK78, on 2013-June-20, 09:39, said:

Huh?

The 8 - the lowest spot available - shows an even number if it is a count signal.

Correct, I got confused because I play standard count with all my partners.

Can you explain why this is not a count situation? I guess it depends on agreements, but surely one could lead the A or Q if they wanted attitude?

ahydra

[ArtK78]

It is a matter of agreement. But if the lead is a standard honor lead, then the information needed is whether partner wants a continuation on account of his length in the suit or because he has touching honors.

This particular situation is interesting because declarer's count is known to be either 2 or 3 (if declarer was honest during the bidding). So it is likely that partner's honors in the suit are more important than count.

Most players (not playing Rusinow leads) use the A lead as the unblock lead or, failing that, show count. The corrolary is that the K lead requests attitude.

The situation is similar with the Q lead, as it demands the unblock of the J, or to show count.

But I would be happy to hear from others if they have differing opinions about this situation.

[ahydra]

I was always taught "A(Q) for attitude, K for count"... perhaps I am too young, or on the wrong continent, I wonder. I certainly agree that in this situation you should be asking for attitude.

ahydra

[Free]

I don't lead the K at trick 1 because count doesn't help me at all.

[Zelandakh]

Standard honour leads vary from place to place, which is one very good reason why should never give it as an explanation (nor accept it). In several parts of Britain, there is a standard that an Ace lead asks for attitude and a King lead asks for count. Other areas use the old American standard of an Ace lead asking for unblock or count and a King lead asking for attitude. Journalist leads used the Ace for unblock/count, the King for attitude and the Queen to request unblock of the J or to see an attitude signal otherwise. A more modern style that is increasingly popular is for an Ace lead to ask for attitude and a King lead to ask for unblock or count. That is often combined with Rusinow for lower honour leads.

In any case, it is surely clear here that the King lead is not asking for unblock/count and the OP is from the wrong area for it to be a simple count request, so the 8 is an attitude signal. And if the opponents are playing normal Stayman then partner's 8 must be encouraging, since Opener will not hold 4 spades. Continuing with the ♠2 seems obvious - obvious enough that we probably need a club switch.

[hautbois]

Thanks again for responses. (I'm coming off a 4-5 year bridge hiatus so when strange things happen I'm not sure if it's a change in style, I'm rusty, or a mistake has happened.)

I continued with the 2♠ and partner had played the 8 from 98 Q9763 K84 Q42 intending count.

I was under an impression that A attitude, K count applied only to suit contracts. Count at trick one seems generally less valuable in NT.

I also consulted _A Switch in Time_, which has a very narrow view of count's usefulness.

Quote

...we've decided to use count in five specific situations.

(1) With a doubleton, after partner's lead of the AK versus suit contracts -- when we want to obtain a ruff.
(2) At the six-level, after the lead of the king.
(3) Against notrump after the lead of an ace
(4) When helping partner to hold up an ace or king.
(5) When cashing out and the highcards are known.

Ultimately this will come down to a discussion with partner. I don't care so much which page we're on provided it's the same one, though I believe attitude will gain more often and I thought it was clear here.

[ggwhiz]

The opps don't have the worlds fair and I have no side entry.

I play that the 8 is a count card but it could easily be forced from only 2 anyway. Pard will get in in time with AT8 but could overtake with that at trick one.

So, I'm playing the ♣J now while I can to blow off any endplay or discarding hiccup for pard.