Posted 2011-March-28, 15:43
Just encourage slowly obviously!
Are we playing imps or MP?
Personally, at least at imps, I think on this hand that the best play on this hand is to discourage with the spade ace and Qxx of hearts, and encourage with no spade ace. Presumably partner if we discourage will shift to a spade hoping for a heart through in case we have something like Jxxx of hearts and the SA (all of this is because there are so many HCP/tricks in dummy that we know we need 5 immediately, unless my ace was diamonds and not spades in which case we will often survive a black suit shift).
That means when we encourage hearts, partners only shot is to play the HK. This should beat the contract whenever it is beatable, except when we have Qxx of hearts and the DA and declarer has 9 black suit tricks.
This is a good example of why I don't think some "rule" to cover this situation is a good agreement. I think my "solution" is better than frances's because partner has no idea if we have the SK or the SA, he will just be guessing. It seems like Frances's partner will either let them make when we have the SA and Jxxx of hearts, or let them make when we have no SA and Jxxxx of hearts, depending on what he guesses.