[Walddk]

Scoring: IMP

South: 4H
Lead: DJ

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This is not an easy defence for beginners/intermediates, and I bet that even some advanced players will get it wrong. You are East and are looking at this auction with North as dealer:

1♣ - 1♠
1N - 3♥ *)
4♥ - pass

*) Explained as 5-5 in the majors.

Your partner leads ♦J, ducked in dummy, and you win the king. What do you do at trick 2 and what is your reasoning? Maybe you can't defeat this, but which is your best chance? Take your time; there is no brilliancy prize for playing fast.

Advanced/expert players who think they know the correct defence are kindly requested to use hidden text. Beginners/intermediates may do it too if they prefer.

Roland

[PMetsch]

Spoiler

Ace of clubs, before a club is discarded on ace of diamonds

[badderzboy]

What do we know?

South has the Q♦ as 1 he ducked and partner would lead Q from QJxx and therefore if South has two diamonds then he has 0/1 club so we need to cash A Clubs as previous answers. Partner is likely to be 3-3-4-3 on the bidding and south 5-5-2-1.

Lets assume South has 14 points(incl shortage) with Q Diamonds then he might have about 8 HCPs in the majors so we need partner to have Axx or Kxx ♠ and QJx or Q10x♥.

So after A♣ holds play a Spade and hope to set up the spade trick and the chance of a heart trick

Steve

[Fluffy]

Spoiler

I think you can build a hand where cashing your second quick trick gives the contrract, but it will be very rare, just do it and pray that partner can make 2 tricks

[Walddk]

Scoring: IMP

South: 4H
Lead: DJ

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Here is the full hand. The auction was:

1♣ - 1♠
1N - 3♥ *)
4♥ - pass

*) explained as 5-5 in the majors.

West led ♦J ducked to East's king. At the table East switched to a spade, and the contract was now cold. Declarer went up with the ace, unblocked ♦Q, cashed ♥A and entered dummy with a trump to the king.

His losing club disappeared on dummy's ♦A. From then on the defence could only get one trick in each major (♥Q and ♠K).

Should East have known that he must try to cash ♣A at trick 2? It doesn't look appealing with AQ sitting over dummy's KJ, does it, but it is still right to lead the ace - even if declarer is void.

After trick 1 East knows that South has ♦Q. It doesn't cost to lead ♣A even if declarer is void. In that case he has no more losers in the minors. East must hope that South is dealt a 5-5-2-1 shape, and that partner can come to two tricks in the majors.

As you see on the full layout, this is exactly what will happen after ♣A stands up. West has two natural tricks in the major suits, and the contract must go one down. Not an easy hand if you are a beginner/intermediate.

Counting is the key. Declarer is known to have 5-5 in the majors, and he must have at least two diamonds headed by the queen, since he played low from dummy at trick 1. Why the queen you may ask. Because your partner led the jack, and leading a jack denies the queen if you play standard leads.

Your partner found a good lead, and declarer could not have made his contract on accurate defence.

Well done to you who got it right, hidden text or not. You seem to be good defenders!

Roland

[badderzboy]

Now just to do that at the table lol