[Phil]

I'm not exactly sure which forum to put this in. I thought it was an interesting hand, but hopefully the newer players get something out of it.

Its matchpoints and you are defending 3N:

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Partner leads the ♠9. You overtake with the 10 (if you want to choose another honor, please explain why).

What next?

[quiddity]

The club suit looks dangerous so I would switch to the ♦J now and hope to set up some tricks.

[vuroth]

Agree with ♦

[Phil]

Its a funny hand. A diamond shift is deadly, but perhaps not for reasons that are apparent:

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I turned the diagram a little.

On a diamond switch, Q, K, A, an entry for our spades materializes. The best declarer can do is -3.

If declarer ducks the diamond, the defense should plugs away at diamonds for -2.

[mike777]

Phil, on 2011-January-18, 18:24, said:

Its a funny hand. A diamond shift is deadly, but perhaps not for reasons that are apparent:

---

I turned the diagram a little.

On a diamond switch, Q, K, A, an entry for our spades materializes. The best declarer can do is -3.

If declarer ducks the diamond, the defense should plugs away at diamonds for -2.

interesting post...not sure how I know to return a d and not a h.

I guess jt of d favors d but maybe kxx of h favors h?

[Phil]

A heart really needs a lot like QJxxx or better. There are many other combos where it blows a trick like AJ9, J9x or K9x. A diamond simply has to be better.