Friday, November 21, 2008

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.

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