Interesting defensive problem

[Robert Chance]

You are East, holding the following hand at Love All:

KJT98
KT73
65
K7

North deals and opens 1C (Acol, playing a weak NT), and the auction proceeds:

N E S W
1C 1S 2NT P
3NT P P P

2NT is an old fashioned flat 11-12, although South did have a negative double available.

Partner leads the 2S, and dummy goes down with the following (Note: your hand is repeated for convenience):

754
852
AKQ
AQJ6
KJT98
KT73
65
K7

Declarer plays the four of spades from dummy, you play the King and declarer plays the 6.

What do you return at trick 2?

[Charles Brenner]

Post by Robert Chance
KJT98
KT73
65
K7
N E S W
1C 1S 2NT P
3NT P P P
2NT is an old fashioned flat 11-12, although South did have a negative double available.
754
852
AKQ
AQJ6
KJT98
KT73
65
K7
Declarer plays the four of spades from dummy, you play the King and declarer plays the 6.
What do you return at trick 2?

Even though it's obvious, the spade Jack. It's easier to play declarer for Ax,AQx,Jxxx,10xxx than for ducking from AQxx, AJx ... just to give me a chance to make a killing switch.

[f***@googlemail.com]

Post by Robert Chance
KJT98
KT73
65
K7
N E S W
1C 1S 2NT P
3NT P P P
2NT is an old fashioned flat 11-12, although South did have a negative double available.
754
852
AKQ
AQJ6
KJT98
KT73
65
K7
Declarer plays the four of spades from dummy, you play the King and declarer plays the 6.
What do you return at trick 2?

I don't know. I didn't play the SK at trick 1. When does it gain?

[Robert Chance]

Post by f***@googlemail.com

Post by Robert Chance
KJT98
KT73
65
K7
N E S W
1C 1S 2NT P
3NT P P P
2NT is an old fashioned flat 11-12, although South did have a negative double available.
754
852
AKQ
AQJ6
KJT98
KT73
65
K7
Declarer plays the four of spades from dummy, you play the King and declarer plays the 6.
What do you return at trick 2?

I don't know. I didn't play the SK at trick 1. When does it gain?

If you play any other spade at trick one, declarer still plays the six.

Your turn.

[Co Wiersma]

Post by f***@googlemail.com

Post by Robert Chance
KJT98
KT73
65
K7
N E S W
1C 1S 2NT P
3NT P P P
2NT is an old fashioned flat 11-12, although South did have a negative double available.
754
852
AKQ
AQJ6
KJT98
KT73
65
K7
Declarer plays the four of spades from dummy, you play the King and declarer plays the 6.
What do you return at trick 2?

I don't know. I didn't play the SK at trick 1. When does it gain?

It gains ( I guess) when the leader has SQ

Co Wiersma

[Sandy Barnes]

Post by Robert Chance
KJT98
KT73
65
K7
N E S W
1C 1S 2NT P
3NT P P P
2NT is an old fashioned flat 11-12, although South did have a negative double available.
754
852
AKQ
AQJ6
KJT98
KT73
65
K7
Declarer plays the four of spades from dummy, you play the King and declarer plays the 6.
What do you return at trick 2?

Spade 8, then 9. hopefully, partner will see this sequence as suit preference when he wins the 3rd round with the ace.

[Dave Flower]

Post by Sandy Barnes

Post by Robert Chance
KJT98
KT73
65
K7
N E S W
1C 1S 2NT P
3NT P P P
2NT is an old fashioned flat 11-12, although South did have a negative double available.
754
852
AKQ
AQJ6
KJT98
KT73
65
K7
Declarer plays the four of spades from dummy, you play the King and declarer plays the 6.
What do you return at trick 2?

Spade 8, then 9. hopefully, partner will see this sequence as suit preference when he wins the 3rd round with the ace.

You seem to be assuming that there are fourteen spades in the pack; declarer holding Qxx and partner Axx.

Surely the most likely layout is declarer holding Ax and partner Qxx.

In that case you should continue with SJ for two reasons:
1) To ensure that partner unblocks the SQ
2) To send a false suit preference signal to declarer that you do not have the CK

Dave Flower

[Douglas]

Post by Robert Chance
N E S W
1C 1S 2NT P
3NT P P P
2NT is an old fashioned flat 11-12, although South did have a negative double available.
754
852
AKQ
AQJ6
KJT98
KT73
65
K7
Declarer plays the four of spades from dummy, you play the King and declarer plays the 6.
What do you return at trick 2?

I am an occasional ordinary duplicate player. And I have taken a long time-out to think about this set of facts. Which would not be possible at the table!

I am going to take south's 2Nt response at face value, and take him/her as having A, Q of spades. Now my partner's 2 of spades lead seems most likely a suit preference lead (it could also be a singleton), and I switch to a low heart back as the only chance to beat the contract.

And that is probably why I continue to be ordinary player.

Douglas

[Robert Chance]

Post by Robert Chance
KJT98
KT73
65
K7
N E S W
1C 1S 2NT P
3NT P P P
2NT is an old fashioned flat 11-12, although South did have a negative double available.
754
852
AKQ
AQJ6
KJT98
KT73
65
K7
Declarer plays the four of spades from dummy, you play the King and declarer plays the 6.
What do you return at trick 2?

Do keep the ideas coming - I will post the NS hands tomorrow as a play problem.