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Detail specifications 74BA - Level 2

The leader's partner counterattack in a 3 NT game

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The leader's partner counterattack in a 3 NT game
Most of the time, the leader's partner replays in the lead suit.
But when you realize that this suit looks hopeless, you have to counterattack in another one.
The different options are :
  • Find the right suit to defeat the contract. Remember the bidding sequence and pay attention to dummy. You'll be able to assess your partner's hand.
    • If it's very poor, figure out where the declarer's honors are, and according to this, try to make your own honors (example below)
    • If your partner holds some HCP, figure out which honors he's got....
    • Even if your chance of success is weak, try it !
  • When you see dummy holds a long suit, try to eliminate the entries the declarer is going to take advantage of

SWNE
1NT
Pass
3NT
Pass
Pass
Pass
 4  
3  Q
 K  
A
5
8
5
4
8
7
5
3
K
Q
6
2
K
Q
10
9
7
A
9
4
10
7
2
Your partner leads 4 ; you take with your K, but you can see is not very promising. Add the opponents' HCP to yours : your partner is very poor. He's got J 4th and nothing else ....Counterattack K . You’l take the lead with Ace , so you might be able to defeat the contract. The only condition is to find 3 low cards in your partner's hand...meaning the declarer holds a doubleton : Ace J.
 
 
The leader's partner counterattack in a 3 NT game
Example : cut off the opponents' communications
You sit in S, W plays 3 NT. Your partner leads Q . The declarer takes the trick with the Ace. Now, he plays J towards dummy's 3. You take it with your Q. What are you going to play next ?
SWNE
1
Pass
1
Pass
2NT
Pass
3NT
Pass
Pass
Pass
 3  
J  8
 Q  
4
3
7
5
A
4
K
10
9
4
3
8
Q
J
10
9
K
10
9
8
7
A
K ! Count your HCP and add them to the opponents'...your partner is poor. He's got Q J , and that's probably it !Prevent the declarer from operating dummy's : play K , and repeat if dummy doesn't take the first time...