I was pleased to make this one after West's lead effectively told me both spade honors were offside. I could have taken an extra chance and played for East holding ♦KQ which allows me to set up an extra diamond winner (and works here), unfortunately I missed it. I claimed at the point East was thrown in, and afterwards he said he should have dropped his club queen under one of my honors, which prevents the endplay and puts me down. I was almost there but not quite, got away with it thanks to a defensive error at the end.
strip and throw in, and defence
#1
Posted 2020-February-28, 07:01
I was pleased to make this one after West's lead effectively told me both spade honors were offside. I could have taken an extra chance and played for East holding ♦KQ which allows me to set up an extra diamond winner (and works here), unfortunately I missed it. I claimed at the point East was thrown in, and afterwards he said he should have dropped his club queen under one of my honors, which prevents the endplay and puts me down. I was almost there but not quite, got away with it thanks to a defensive error at the end.
#2
Posted 2020-February-28, 07:15
You actually need both diamonds onside most of the time with both spades offside, and E is unlikely to play a non stiff Q here (yes you can survive if E only has 2 clubs), but you should draw 3 trumps and play a diamond towards the J, when E plays the Q, you take the A and cross back to the club ace to lead a second diamond. If W can win this and a spade comes through, you fly the ace, and take your last chance, club to the K ruff the last diamond and exit a spade hoping E has to give you a ruff and discard, but most of the time ♦J will be your 10th trick once the Q has been played.
#3
Posted 2020-February-28, 07:56
If a 4♥ response would be to play then maybe that is better here.
Not my system (we play strong NT and 4♥ is Texas), just wondering.
#4
Posted 2020-February-28, 08:09
pescetom, on 2020-February-28, 07:56, said:
If a 4♥ response would be to play then maybe that is better here.
Not my system (we play strong NT and 4♥ is Texas), just wondering.
On this hand you do transfer because you may want to play 3N which is of course cold.
We can bid 4♥ to play but that tends to be a hand that wants to conceal its shape from the defence rather than putting it on the table, texas is nothing like as common opposite a weak NT.
#5
Posted 2020-February-28, 08:58
Cyberyeti, on 2020-February-28, 08:09, said:
I agree that you transfer to offer the choice of games between 3NT rather than 4♥. But once you have found the nine-card heart fit, I can't see why South would judge to pass the 3NT bid. It might be cold on this hand, but on another occasion, north will hold a small doubleton
#6
Posted 2020-February-28, 10:23
Tramticket, on 2020-February-28, 08:58, said:
I agree entirely, I was responding to Pescetom's question about bidding a direct 4♥
#7
Posted 2020-February-28, 10:59
pescetom, on 2020-February-28, 07:56, said:
If a 4♥ response would be to play then maybe that is better here.
Not my system (we play strong NT and 4♥ is Texas), just wondering.
I think you mistake the primary reason that people play transfers. One does not play transfers to "right-side" a contract. You play transfers because they are forcing and allow you to have sequences for multiple hand types. If 2♥ and 2♠ are natural, you get to choose, are they forcing? What are the rest of your agreements? How do you find 4-4 major suit fits? And, after considering these questions, do you think the resulting system would be any good at all?
"right-siding" the contract opposite a strong no-trump is just a minor gain in the grand scheme of things.
#8
Posted 2020-February-28, 11:12
KingCovert, on 2020-February-28, 10:59, said:
"right-siding" the contract opposite a strong no-trump is just a minor gain in the grand scheme of things.
No mistake and I agree, rightsiding is just one of the gains inherent in transfers.
Strong NT would elect North declarer in hearts which by chance or not is better on this layout, I was just wondering if Weak NT should have lead to the same result here in some way.

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