[kgr]

Scoring: IMP

(1D)-(1H)
(2C)-(2NT)
(3NT)

---

2NT of declarer showed 10 HCP.
Partner starts with ♠2 (4th best). You play A and return a small ♠ for J of declarer and K of partner. Partner now returns another ♠ for you Q and declarers 9.
It is clear that declarer still has ♠T.
What do you play now?

[jdonn]

Shouldn't we be told what the discards from dummy were?

[Rebound]

Seems like a typical hand for declarer would be something like J9xx (AorK)xxx Ax Qxx. Passive defense would seem to beat this hand. If declarer plays on clubs it gives partner a chance to show where his strength lies so I return a spade.

[kgr]

jdonn, on Nov 18 2007, 01:13 AM, said:

Shouldn't we be told what the discards from dummy were?

Dummy discards were a H and a D.
(This is a bad signs that I didn't immediatly remember dummy's discards.)

This post has been edited by kgr: 2007-November-18, 04:15

[kgr]

After we cashed 3 ♠ tricks, I returned a ♥. (the idea was to develop a ♥ trick before declarer did set up dummy's ♣.)
How bad is that?
...Thinking about this it is probably very bad .
The only time it can be any useful is when declarer has:
JT9x=AJxx=xx=Qxx : not a possible hand for the bidding & heart return is not needed.
JT9x=AJxx=A8x=xx : heart return does not help us.
I can't find a possible hand where it is needed.
....
Declare had:
JT9x=AKTx=8x=Qxx : The heart return did help him to find ♥J with partner.
...
This is probably my weakest point in defending: deducting what possbile hands declarer can hold & concluding what the best defence is.
Any suggestions how to improve that are welcome.
Thanks,
Koen
PS: I'm rereading Kelsey's 4 volumes on squeezes. It is probably almost useless if I can't improve the above point.

[pclayton]

I'd just return the 4th spade unless dummy's discards were very telling, such as pitching a two clubs or diamonds.

This is a passive defense, but it tends to squeeze dummy out of a possible winner or a finessable suit.