grizz: Hi all, and welcome grizz: Chat logs and hand records are stored in your computer for later review. grizz: For information on how to retrieve them, go the BIL homepage or email me. grizz: I teach private individual, pair, and small group lessons. If you would like to know more please email me at Grizz@GrizzBridge.com. grizz: And archives of old sessions are available at GrizzBridge.com, on the Lessons and Archives page located at: http://www.grizzbridge.com/Lessons_and_Archives.php grizz: There will be lots of questions. I want to address them all, but in a manner helpful to all, so please ask them in open chat. grizz: I encourage participation by all kibs grizz: So jump right in with a comment, question, or bid at any time, but please do it in open chat grizz: ... since I can't always respond to private chat grizz: We usually do random hands, and all areas of bidding, defense and declarer play are open for comment. PerfecPlay: i take it this is a sample lesson? grizz: in some respects, yes grizz: but i do this every weekend PerfecPlay: ok,,tx mamadee: hello grizz: ok, if S had opened 1!d and the auction went as above, then 2!c would be New Minor Forcing, showing 10+ and 5+!ss grizz: i recommend playing NMF even after opening 1!h grizz: and making a Convenient Minor bid in the better minor, so either minor is forcing but still might be only 3 long and therefore alertable grizz: ok, pretend you are W now, choose a line of defense and a lead wvajuju: shouldn't N have jumped to 3 spades, showing a max? grizz: maybe, but that N hand is aces and spaces grizz: not rich in tricks grizz: 14 hcp grizz: crummy !s grizz: so all things considered, N should bid just 2!s and see what pard does grizz: if pard raises to 3, then N might bid 4 grizz: you know that ops are in a 5-3 fit, and S has no support for !h meshmeshaa: j h sascha3: 10!D mamadee: lead J hrt tmortada: !HJ PerfecPlay: 10d grizz: ok, i am asking now for a strategy of defense, then we will choose a lead PerfecPlay: i would pass 2s grizz: pass 2!s? grizz: not even invite with this hand? PerfecPlay: 11pts? bbo_iac: 11hcp and pard opened... grizz: 4!s is a Losing Trick Count PerfecPlay: 23 pts grizz: assuming that pard has 7 losers, per LTC grizz: with a !s fit, S has 6 losers - 2!s, 1!h, 1!k and 2!c grizz: and the Ks are protected from the opening lead PerfecPlay: what is LTC? grizz: Losing Trick Count PerfecPlay: ok grizz: so LTC predicts that this hand makes 4 grizz: might be off by a trick, with only an 8 card trump fit, but it's close enough to try grizz: here is a quick rundown of LTC grizz: look at the top 3 cards in each suit grizz: count 1 loser for each of them NOT an AK or Q grizz: so LTC for N is 3!s, 2!h, 1!d and 1!C = 7 grizz: which is a garden variety opening hand grizz: and S has 2!s, 1!h, 1!d and 2!c = 6 grizz: total up losers in each hand and subtract from 18, and that tells you what level the hand probably makes grizz: so 18-7-6 = 5, this should make 5!s if the LTC assumptions are right grizz: assumptions are that 50% of finesses win grizz: and neither op has a freak hand grizz: so the S hand has only 11 hcp, but with the !s fit it plays a lot stronger than that grizz: let's see how the prediction works out grizz: now back to W, what should his strategy be? grizz: choose 1 or 2 from 5: mamadee: lead j heart grizz: 1. Active defense grizz: 2. Forcing defense grizz: 3. Passive defense grizz: 4. Reduce ruffs grizz: 5. Create ruffing tricks mamadee: active grizz: let's eliminate Forcing, since neither defender has 4 trumps eubulides: 4 grizz: there is a chance here that W could create a !h ruff grizz: if pard has the A or K grizz: W has the !sA to stop the run of the trump suit, so if E has a magic !h holding then there might be a ruff for W liuchi: 4 tmortada: 5 grizz: y, let's call that a maybe dee_dee_20: tuff lead when u see all hands grizz: Reduce Ruffs is a defense we use when we think that declarer needs ruffs grizz: which might be the case here grizz: S does not have !h support grizz: so maybe S needs ruffs in hand for !hs grizz: so let's call that a maybe grizz: we don't have any lead directing bids or doubles from pard, so does that tell us anything? grizz: not really, not in this auction grizz: so pard might have something over there grizz: ops did not sniff for slam, and W has only 8 hcp, so E is not broke grizz: what about Passive? canbid: 10 of !d meshmeshaa: jh maysie: AND N re-bid 1nt - so few S - then points must be in minors? grizz: strategy first, then we select a card grizz: !DT is a Passive lead, do we want to play Passive defense? tmortada: passive lead of !D10 might give away the location of !DK if pd has it grizz: y, also true tmortada: so it might cost a trick grizz: i don't like Passive on this auction, anyway grizz: so let's choose between Active, Reduce Ruffs, and Create Trump Tricks meshmeshaa: creat trump tricks DougC43: RR grizz: i call it a coin flip, between RR and CTT tmortada: south bid !C so he probably has some HCP in !Cs so Active lead of !C is not really nice grizz: right trafalgar2: N bid 2!s what would 3!s from N have shown? grizz: and N has 5- cards in the minors eubulides: dec needs club ruff grizz: y, sounds like declarer needs ruffs in dummy grizz: !h ruffs in hand will not help declarer grizz: so !h ruffs are not the threat trafalgar2: N does not have 4 !s lead trump grizz: but !c or !d ruffs might be necessary in dummy sascha3: RR grizz: ok, so RR it is grizz: so we lead a trump, but which one? sascha3: 10 eubulides: 10 tmortada: 10 snowcatmw: a snowcatmw: A trafalgar2: 9 grizz: there are only 2 ways to go - A and low, or low to start DougC43: double-dummy, 10 is obvious, but seeing only w, not sure grizz: if low to start, then play A and low on the next round sascha3: ? not sure what that means grizz: you can be pretty certain to knock out 3 trumps if you lead low from Axx, and then A-x later grizz: how about that! sascha3: oh ok - u meant 9 and not 10 grizz: now it's E's turn to decide what to do grizz: and here is a good tip trafalgar2: continue p's good work, no good switch grizz: when pard has chosen a certain line of defense, and there is no clear better one visible when dummy hits the table, then follow pard's lead DougC43: now if E returns the J and decl ducks, does W duck too? tmortada: continue !S, follow pd strategy dee_dee_20: yes grizz: right grizz: interesting decision here dee_dee_20: overtake and return 10 grizz: if we continue with pulling dummy's trump, we surrender a natural trump trick sascha3: yes trafalgar2: but gain a !c dee_dee_20: but we are reducing ruffs DougC43: "win one extra !S trick" vs. "kill ruffs immediately" grizz: but W has the protected !cK grizz: so W needs to decide whether to continue with his Plan A, or whether something else looks better now that dummy is visible grizz: so look at the W !h holding grizz: not much chance of winning a finesse with that trash grizz: if E has a !d trick, it's not going away grizz: but S might really need !h ruffs in hand now grizz: so grizz: continue with Plan A, for better or worse grizz: it might not be perfect, but S won't get any !c ruffs grizz: and can't hook him out of the K, either grizz: E gives Count here sascha3: stuck lol grizz: so W figured that S didn't have 3, and those 2 tricks confirmed the suspicion canbid: now can set up hrts trafalgar2: curtains sascha3: makes 5 as in LTC grizz: how about that! eubulides: works if s "covers honor w honor" grizz: in !s? eubulides: y canbid: can u replay and have j hrt lead ?? grizz: sure trafalgar2: bidding question please? grizz: sure trafalgar2: N bid 2!s what could N bid 3!s? showing max range grizz: with a 15-17 hand, sure - but not with this one, it's a minimum opener grizz: the first time we played this, it was wrong to cover the !CQ because dummy was out of trump, and the K was protected grizz: but here the situation is different grizz: if there is any possibility of promoting a J or T in pard's hand, W should cover JohnnyHiLo: gib doesn't like the qs play grizz: i'm not thrilled either tmortada: down 1 if !C9 now grizz: y, with the en passant position grizz: nothing looks very appetizing here grizz: that's an easy play looking at it double dummy :) trafalgar2: but the 1nt rebid shows 12-14? or is it 12-17! ? moedraznin: when W rose with the Ace, if he lead a !C E wont ruff with the Ks since he does not know W has 10 & 9S anyway tmortada: !SK is good to avoid a later endplay grizz: i'm getting a lot of private messages and can't keep up with all of them, so please ask in open chat grizz: good point grizz: if S has the A, it's dead anyway grizz: S will go to dummy and lead the S, trapping it grizz: now what? sascha3: !D eubulides: making 4 grizz: pard has the boss !s, so what now? grizz: !h obviously costs a trick tmortada: !D canbid: same result so passive or rr lead made no diff dee_dee_20: made 5 b4 canbid->Club: in this case grizz: made 5 before, when W continued with the RR plan sascha3: yes grizz: though it would have made 4 if W kept his natural trump trick grizz: and abandoned the RR plan grizz: so there is no magic defense to this one sascha3: and still makes 4 if !D lead? grizz: !d? let's try it grizz: same result now, makes 4 sascha3: yes JohnnyHiLo: yes. gib concurs grizz: :) grizz: let's try a new hand grizz: let's have a show of hands - what to do now? leonora3: 2!h sascha3: 2NT moedraznin: 2nt canbid: 2nt analisals: 3nt tmortada: 3d analisals: 3nt DougC43: p?? kelsey321: 2nt trafalgar2: 3!d grizz: Qxx is a crummy stopper in !c, but maybe worth a shot sascha3: lol:) leonora3: MP? grizz: y, let's call it matchpoints grizz: E has a nice 10, and not a great fit but the !HQJ are nice cards leonora3: ok i love QJ!h canbid: like my hands always a tuff rebid :( grizz: y, and good cases can be made for several of them ELIZA42: now pass grizz: y, W has no extras grizz: ok, same choice now for defense grizz: 1. Active grizz: 2. Passive sascha3: hard lead from south ELIZA42: 2 clubs tmortada: Active - !C lead the unbid suit canbid: against nt active grizz: for those of you who have not been to my 5 Lines Of Defense classes, here are the indicators for Active Defense: grizz: a. Any time tricks can go away, such as on a long side suit in either op hand. grizz: b. Declarer's side suit is breaking favorably. grizz: c. Ops have bid strongly, showing slam interest. grizz: d. One op has a long running suit, such as a Gambling 3NT bid showing a running 7+ card suit. grizz: here are the indicators for Passive Defense: grizz: a. Ops have not bid a strong side suit. grizz: b. Declarer is strong, and dummy is weak. grizz: c. There is a misfit in key suits. grizz: d. Opening leader has no suit to lead against NT. grizz: e. You are defending 6NT or any grand slam. grizz: f. Ops have stumbled into a game. grizz: Notice that there are a LOT of situations that indicate Passive Defense is best! sascha3: yes grizz: also, we know that 2NT is a very difficult contract to play grizz: so our prime imperative here should be to not give away a trick with the opening lead grizz: if we go Active, we risk leading right into a tenace and giving away a trick grizz: which might be just what E needs to bring home this shaky contract grizz: so the lead least likely to give away a trick actually looks like an Active lead, A from AKxx grizz: this one has the added advantage of letting pard give a signal grizz: and from the N POV, nothing looks much better than a !c continuation grizz: ok, now E has to do all the hard work by himself - defenders gave him no gifts grizz: which is what Passive defense is all about grizz: hmmm overtake or not? JohnnyHiLo: gib is shuddering sascha3: so am i lol dee_dee_20: not grizz: lol what does gib do here? JohnnyHiLo: play low tmortada: no joyable: low sascha3: yes low grizz: there are 2 possible entries, so playing low is probably right grizz: but now E must create an entry sascha3: !D grizz: y, but which one? mojila: K tmortada: !DQ mojila: Q grizz: Q is great, because if A is in the S it must hold up grizz: and maybe somebody has a stiff A! dee_dee_20: low !s tmortada: no dee_dee_20: oh oh JohnnyHiLo: ouch tmortada: !D10 grizz: but why? ELIZA42: why S grizz: N would not win the A unless he had to dee_dee_20: if N leads A now -1 grizz: would hold up, and cover the K to kill the entry sascha3: but he couldnt play Jack cos u lead Q grizz: so S must have the !d length grizz: so keep the KT tenace over the presumed J in S sascha3: so if he had Ax he would have ducked grizz: has to lose a !s anyway tmortada: !SA now and H dummy will be endplayed in !D eubulides: now a of s and ht dee_dee_20: A!S lead J promoted dee_dee_20: -1 DougC43: low !S now tmortada: !H dee_dee_20: no no JohnnyHiLo: back in the pink grizz: wow, tough hand to defend, tough hand to play tmortada: !H after the !SA and dummy will lead away from !DK10 sascha3: definately:) tmortada: -1 grizz: let's try it again canbid->Club: rt grizz: !SA and !h? tmortada: !C10 dee_dee_20: low !s grizz: oops, i played too fast tmortada: you should have cashed the !Hs first tmortada: the QJ grizz: !SA now? dee_dee_20: !c tmortada: !C10, now if dummy discards !S7 then -1 canbid: 10!c tmortada: but !D10 is ok eubulides: w has to throw a d tmortada: or even !H7 grizz: gotcha tmortada: :) grizz: good catch there :) grizz: avoid !d endplay tmortada: yes grizz: after !h throwin grizz: any other thoughts on this one? DougC43: if !H now, then what shakes down? canbid: makes no matter what lead . wd grizz: y, and no gifts from the defense tmortada: do we lead A from AKxx in NT contracts? grizz: depends on partnership agreements dee_dee_20: not me grizz: i lead the A if i want Count, but K for Attitude dee_dee_20: vs suits grizz: and generally we won't lead either vs. NT tmortada: not 4th best? tmortada: ah ok grizz: but our auction analysis here called for a Passive lead, and that was the only one available from this hand grizz: remember, we decided that worst thing would be to give away a trick by leading into a tenace grizz: might have been a wrong analysis, but c'est la vie grizz: even a wrong analysis is better than a shot in the dark grizz: btw, the worst mistake possible vs. NT is to go Active when you should go Passive grizz: since those Active leads so often give away a trick grizz: so top of a sequence is a good Passive lead grizz: or a worthless suit canbid: on that bidding , i probably go 3 nt and down lol :( grizz: :) grizz: y, against tough defenders like we have here, most ops don't get overly aggressive :) ELIZA42: u dont have enuf pts for 3nt grizz: 10 hcp, fairly nice middle cards, but not enough for 3NT if W is a mini grizz: and since W was a 3rd hand opener, he might be submini grizz: though the !d rebid suggested a full opener ELIZA42: discipline grizz: yes, i have a great deal of respect for discipline grizz: OK then, our time is up now, thanks for coming and I'll see you next week. grizz: If anybody needs help retrieving the hand records or chat log, please email me at Grizz@GrizzBridge.com. joyable: tks grizz: I teach private individual, pair, and small group lessons. If you would like to know more please email me at Grizz@GrizzBridge.com. cdt->Club: Thaks Pete great lesson great fun :) bbo_iac: thanks vey much Grizz and thanks all for coming JohnnyHiLo: thank you Pete tmortada: thx Pete grizz: Thanks for your interest and participation, and I hope to see you next week. grizz: Grizz out.