[ArtK78]

IMPs. 28 board match. All vul. You hold, in second seat:


-----
A8753
AT75
T987


You hear the following auction:

RHO - LHO

1♦ - 1♠
2♠ - 3♣
3NT - 5♠
6♠


Partner leads the ♦4, third and lowest leads. You see the following dummy:

Q42
KQ2
KQ863
43

EDIT: Declarer plays low from dummy at trick one.

Plan the defense.

[Fluffy]

I guess what you are trying, but I doubt I would have the guts at the table, declarer could have ♦2 stiff, or he could have his void in hearts partner leading a singleton, and although I know it is tactically better to duck the diamond at trick one I am not seeing the benefit just yet.

[gszes]

the bidding does not match the hand presentation also what card does
dummy play to trick 1????

[ArtK78]

The bidding does match the hand presenation. The opening bidder is to your right. But I have edited the OP to make it clearer.

This is not the hand as it was played in real life. Declarer and dummy are switched (or the defenders' hands are switched - take your pick).

Dummy plays small at trick one.

[bigbenvic]

My partner is not leading 3 from jxxx on this auction, no way. If he does we'll be having a chat later!

I'm winning Ace and giving him his ruff, I expect declarer to be void in hearts.

[ArtK78]

bigbenvic, on 2013-July-29, 11:59, said:

My partner is not leading 3 from jxxx on this auction, no way. If he does we'll be having a chat later!

I'm winning Ace and giving him his ruff, I expect declarer to be void in hearts.

Please note that the lead is the ♦4, not the ♦3, if that influences your opinion.The ♦3 is in dummy.

[inquiry]

The 5♠ bid was not explained, but it has the normal meaning which is clear from the 6♠ bid.

5♠ was not general invite, as opener is minimum and would pass.

5♠ was not asking for good trump support ask, because opener's spades are pathetic and would pass 5♠ and if it was trump support asking, partner would have been in position to double six spades.

So 5♠ was normal asking bid looking for a heart control for slam, which opener has, so he bids the slam.

So Declarer has (most likely) six spades, some number of clubs, and at least two hearts. It seems unlikely that partner will have a singleton diamond. Why? Declarer has quite a few know cards (good clubs to have enough to try for slam, good spades--probably to at least five, six more likely) and the two hearts needed for the asking bid of 5♠.

So partner has J93 or J932 of diamonds. So I put in the ♦T.

[sathyab]

inquiry, on 2013-July-29, 18:18, said:

The 5♠ bid was not explained, but it has the normal meaning which is clear from the 6♠ bid.

5♠ was not general invite, as opener is minimum and would pass.

5♠ was not asking for good trump support ask, because opener's spades are pathetic and would pass 5♠ and if it was trump support asking, partner would have been in position to double six spades.

So 5♠ was normal asking bid looking for a heart control for slam, which opener has, so he bids the slam.

So Declarer has (most likely) six spades, some number of clubs, and at least two hearts. It seems unlikely that partner will have a singleton diamond. Why? Declarer has quite a few know cards (good clubs to have enough to try for slam, good spades--probably to at least five, six more likely) and the two hearts needed for the asking bid of 5♠.

So partner has J93 or J932 of diamonds. So I put in the ♦T.

Yes, it definitely looks like declarer is looking for help in ♥ asking partner to bid slam without two losers. 5♠ would be consistent if declarer had ♥Qx, so partner could bid slam with 2nd round control. But since you can see top three ♥ honors between you and dummy, the 5♠ bid doesn't probably mean what it conventionally means. The declarer must have something else in mind. But still playing the Ten appears technically correct, but I'd also be wondering why partner didn't lead a ♥ himself instead of dummy's 1st bid suit.

[ArtK78]

The point of this hand was to see if third hand could work out not to play the ♦A.

This hand is the same as JEC Match Board 10, except I have interchanged RHO and LHO. Slam is cold unless trump break 4-0, which they did. However, if the lead was a diamond and the hand with the two red aces were in third seat, the defense would have to play the 10 to avoid giving declarer two quick pitches for his Jx of hearts in hand.

All very hypothetical, as the opening lead is likely to be a heart, not a diamond. But I thought it was an interesting position.

[sathyab]

ArtK78, on 2013-July-30, 12:42, said:

The point of this hand was to see if third hand could work out not to play the ♦A.

This hand is the same as JEC Match Board 10, except I have interchanged RHO and LHO. Slam is cold unless trump break 4-0, which they did. However, if the lead was a diamond and the hand with the two red aces were in third seat, the defense would have to play the 10 to avoid giving declarer two quick pitches for his Jx of hearts in hand.

All very hypothetical, as the opening lead is likely to be a heart, not a diamond. But I thought it was an interesting position.

Hmm, so the bid of 5♠ with ♥Jx was not hypothetical then ?

[ArtK78]

sathyab, on 2013-July-30, 14:49, said:

Hmm, so the bid of 5♠ with ♥Jx was not hypothetical then ?

No. It was textbook. I have everything under control except hearts. If partner can control hearts, we have a slam.

[the hog]

So partner has led from Jxxx of Ds on this auction? I suggest partner be given the sack! This would have been an appalling lead and hence is not a realistic problem.

[ArtK78]

the hog, on 2013-July-30, 21:30, said:

So partner has led from Jxxx of Ds on this auction? I suggest partner be given the sack! This would have been an appalling lead and hence is not a realistic problem.

Thanks for your input. It is very helpful.

I just thought it was an interesting position. I never said it was a realistic problem.

[the hog]

No problemo, Art. My input is just as useful as posting a problem which would only arise if playing with a beginner.

[Fluffy]

my initial post was befor the edit and I Was assuming dummy was playing ♦K, where it is technically better to duck that to win when declarer is void, but the evidence is not strong enough for risking it.

dummy playing low is a different issue, but looking carefully at the bidding I think it is possible.