Kantar for the Defense

The Dec 2008 Kantar for the defense gives this:

Dummy:

T932

QJ92

T9

754

                   East:

                   A64

                    765

                   83

                   98632

2C - 2D

2N - 3C

3D - 3NT

Opening lead:  4th? S7, 2, A, ??  (really he needs to tell you declarer plays the 5; it makes a huge difference).

The official solution is to shift to a club.  It is explained that if partner has S KJ87, he will work out to drop declarer's SQ and you need to set up a trick.  All well and good.  

But then it goes on to say that if declarer is off the CA but has the SK... i.e.

K5, AKx, AQJxx, KQJ

That partner can win the CA and continue a low spade to still beat the hand.

NOT SO FAST.  Declarer wins the SK, Cashes the club QJ and partner outshows on the 3rd round.  Now declarer is 100% to make by cashing four hearts and exiting a spade. 

A club shift might be best, but it won't work in as may cases as Kantar claims.

After a takeout double - pet peeve

The Nov 2008 Bulletin aricle "claim with Colchamiro" (page 48) gives some pretty poor advice for intermediate players.

I quote

 "...after partner's 1S opening bid and a takout double, you would bid 2C with :

83, K7, 864, QJT643.  

The reason you can make a 2/1 bid is that a redouble shows 10 or more HCP and usually no great fit for partner's suit.  With a long suit (that can't be bid at the one level) and 10 or more points, redouble first, and then bid your suit (forcing one round) at your second turn."

OK.  There are some problems with this more or less standard approach approach.  The first is that your redouble turns on preemptive jumps for the opponents.  Here are the auctions we are comparing:

1S (DBL) RDBL

1S (DBL) 2C

Let's change the example hand a little, so it falls under that 10 or more HCP category.  Let's make it:  Kx, Ax, xxx, AKxxxx.  Come to think of it, this approach would require a redouble with: Qx, x, AT9, KJT9xxx.

How would you like this auction:

1S (DBL) RDBL (3H)

Pass/DBL (Pass) ??

Could your really stand your partner's double with the second hand.  If you pull to 4C, is that forcing?  Can't partner have either of these hands: AKJxx, Qxxx, x, Axx OR  AKxxx, QJTx, Jxx, x?  Why put yourself through this agony?

Even if it is 2H passed back to you the auction will be no bargain, effectively starting at the 3-level instead of the 2-level with both level and strain very much in doubt. 

What if the hand is complex with support...

KQx, x, Kxx, AJ9xxx

A better approach is to have your new suits at the 2-level show shape and be forcing through 3 of that suit.  You can send forcing messages by bidding 2 suits or cuebidding and partner can now rely on your redoubles to show a more balanced pattern (which may help your penalty doubles).

Here is a hand that is slammish opposite club support, but worth game only opposite none.  If you start with a redouble, you are getting none of your message across and will have to start your exploration at the 3 or 4 level.  If you start with 2C, you will find out about club support immediately.

What would be the downside to having your new suits at the 2-level being forcing through 3m?  Can you no longer bid 2C with the example hand... xx, Kx, xxx, QJTxxx.  I don't see why not.  You will be forced to compete to 3C, but that is very likely correct anyway once the opponents bid 2H.  

I've never taken a trick with a high card point.  You take tricks with cards.  Distribution is king and it is much more important to get that message off your chest in a competitive auction.  If you slow down with complex hands, you risk getting blown out.