DONT Override–Solution

Here was the original problem:

Notes on North/South agreements:
1. The 2♣️ bid is DONT—showing a ♣️ suit and an unspecified higher suit.
2. The 2♠️ bid is rejecting the overcaller’s suits.  It says something like “My suit is better for us than either of your suits.”
3. North/South are using “upside-down carding”. This means that a low card is encouraging and high card is discouraging.

South leads the A♠️ against East’s 3♥️ contract. Partner (North) plays the 3♠️ and declarer contributes the 6♠️.

What is the significance of North’s 3♠️ play?

How should South continue?


Solution–
For North to arrogantly override South’s DONT bid–he/she must have at least six ♠️s.  Declarer’s opening 1 NT bid marks him/her for at least two ♠️s and Dummy has four ♠️s.  Both North and South know that South started with a singleton A♠️.  North’s 3♠️ play on the first trick cannot be encouraging/discouraging a ♠️ continuation because, as they both know, South does not have another ♠️ to lead.  Conclusion: North is giving suit preference with the 3♠️, i.e. low ♠️ says “please lead the lower ranking side suit”.  North has K♣️ or a singleton ♣️.  South should continue with A♣️ and a another ♣️.

Here was the entire deal:

If South continues with A♣️ then 3♣️, North ruffs and plays ♠️s. Declarer’s will need excellent play to get even six tricks. If South does not lead a ♣️ at trick two, East will eventually win the K♣️ because South will be endplayed. The ♣️ switch has nothing to lose.

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