[luke warm]

ok, so how do you ask for a heart shift?

[cherdano]

SoTired, on Jun 22 2005, 02:58 PM, said:

I'm not so sure the obvious shift is a heart, because the bidding went 3D 4S. That likely marks declarer with all outstanding honors. Even with 7 solid spades, for the 4S bid instead of the KH, the heart shift requires declarer to have ♥xxx and ♣Ax. Seems to me it is much more likely that declarer has ♣Axx to make the club shift right in both cases.

It depends on whether you mean obvious shift, or the Obvious Shift. Jimmy is talking about the OS methods as popularized by the Granovetters in their famous "A switch in time". They made up a fixed set of (partially natural, and partially artificial) rules defining which suit should be considered as the OS. Here in particular the obvious shift is hearts because it is the weaker of the two equal length side suits in dummy. Discouraging diamonds would show tolerance for a heart shift (likely A or K) in their methods, and club is the unusual switch for which you have to signal with an unusual card.

The fixed rules of course mean that the obvious shift is not always what you would like it to be, but it means that you will never (the rules are really simple) have a misunderstanding with partner about it.

Arend

[mike777]

SoTired, on Jun 22 2005, 08:58 AM, said:

I'm not so sure the obvious shift is a heart, because the bidding went 3D 4S. That likely marks declarer with all outstanding honors. Even with 7 solid spades, for the 4S bid instead of the KH, the heart shift requires declarer to have ♥xxx and ♣Ax. Seems to me it is much more likely that declarer has ♣Axx to make the club shift right in both cases.

To repeat again, Reisig, Ben, Francis and ToTired point out the main issues here.
1) At trick one many people play all 3 signals, attitude, Count and Suit preference and expect partner to figure out what is when!
2) Experts disagree on what is the obvious shift at trick one.
3) Better to simplify to one method me thinks.
4) I guess this is a good thing that most experts do this and disagree on how to solve this problem. It gives us "OS" junkies a chance to win the board and concentrate instead on improving our play of the hands since we are playing better defense.

BTW on Ben's hand I hope p remembers to lead the ten of clubs and not a low one.

[Al_U_Card]

I agree that the possibilities are convoluted and many, until you look at the bidding. For his bid, and your pard's pass, LHO is likely singleton in D. Since he has significant values for his game bid, just play your lowest card for the club shift because Attitude is irrelevant, Count is superfluous and suit preference (as always) is only when required....LIKE NOW!

[luke warm]

the point mike made is, if you play a clear method there will not be nearly as many misunderstandings... the first trick is always attitude, except with 2 exact exceptions

[whereagles]

Hum.. lol my 'masterminding' play of overtaking the diam queen actually works

[pclayton]

Because you asked.......

The Obvious Shift suit here is a heart. Its not subjective - there are rules associated with it, and it is ALWAYS clear to the defenders. Without getting into specifics, a 4 card suit headed by no honors (♥'s) has priority over a 4 card suit headed by three honors (♣'s).

Playing UDCA - a low diamond (2) says, "I didn't mind your lead, however, I deny the A or K♥, and secondarily, the ♣A or K". Note, when one preempts, this can be extended to a void as well.

A discouraging diamond - the 8 says, "I have the required holding in hearts for you to shift. Continue accordingly".

A high diamond - and its usually defined as the 10 or higher says, "I'm interested in the non-obvious shift suit".

Here, we would play the J and shift to the ♣10 or 7 (suit preference for ♥'s). Defeating the contract by 3 can and should happen.

[FrancesHinden]

SoTired, on Jun 22 2005, 08:58 AM, said:

I'm not so sure the obvious shift is a heart, because the bidding went 3D 4S. That likely marks declarer with all outstanding honors. Even with 7 solid spades, for the 4S bid instead of the KH, the heart shift requires declarer to have ♥xxx and ♣Ax. Seems to me it is much more likely that declarer has ♣Axx to make the club shift right in both cases.

A heart switch could also be right if the opening leader has a singleton diamond and the 3D bidder a singleton heart. I'm getting seriously off-topic now, but this layout is worth being aware of:

---

On the same auction, partner leads the DQ and you signal for a heart. Holding the AQ, Partner leads the HA. You have to remember to play the King under this. (If partner doesn't have the HQ he has switch to a low one away from the Ace, playing you for Kx or KJ10. We once conceded an overtrick in a double contract when I switched to the Ace from Axxxx and partner unblocked from Kx.)