A Coup For You

With both Vul at IMP’s, playing against strong opponents, you pick up the following hand: K Q J 6 5 4 2 K 8 K 9 2 8

You open 1 and your LHO bids 2. Partner passes and RHO bids 3. You try 3 and your LHO bids 3NT. Everyone passes.

Partner leads the 9 and you see the dummy.

	NORTH   7 3   A 6 5 4   A 6 5 3   J 5 3
			EAST   K Q J 6 5 4 2   K 8   K 9 2   8

Declarer ducks the first spade, playing the ten. He wins the second spade, partner following. Declarer now plays the A and continues with a small club, partner winning the queen and declarer playing dummy’s jack.

Plan your defense.

UPDATE 1/27/07. We have some very good answers so far. What if declarer has both red queens? Certainly this is possible, maybe even likely, from the bidding. Does considering this possibility affect your defensive plan?

Click for Solution

Our team has been trying to implement agreements about NT ranges in various auctions. Here is an interesting example on that theme.

Playing in a KO final, with neither vul, you pick up the following hand:

8 6, A K 6 3 K J 7 5 A Q 6

Your partner opens 1. Since we play 3NT to show a 4 hand with some defensive values. Thus constrained, you respond 2 and partner rebids 2.

What now?