[FrancesHinden]

This is somewhere between an Intermediate & an Advanced hand, I think.
Playing against a not massively strong pair.

Scoring: Total Points

1♠ P 3♣ (limit) P
4♠

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West leads the Jack of clubs, playing standard leads.
What card do you play from dummy at trick 1, and why?
If it comes down to it, how are you going to play the hearts?

[inquiry]

FrancesHinden, on Jan 8 2007, 12:50 PM, said:

This is somewhere between an Intermediate & an Advanced hand, I think.
Playing against a not massively strong pair.

Scoring: Total Points

1♠ P 3♣ (limit) P
4♠

---

West leads the Jack of clubs, playing standard leads.
What card do you play from dummy at trick 1, and why?
If it comes down to it, how are you going to play the hearts?

Probably not right, but answer hidden below.

Spoiler

I will probably play WEST for the heart ACE, since he choose a ♣ lead despite his partner not doubling 3♣. Without a lead directing double, Jack from JT(x) is not all that attractive. A heart of a diamond might stand out... unless he held the ACE of hearts. Of course, play in the other suits might influence my decision somewhat.

I have two thoughts in my head. I would like to strip diamonds and endplay EAST, the only real endplay is if he has Qx of clubs (he can not afford to unblock if I play low to trick one). The endplay such that it might be is difficult to achieve. You need to slip one spade through or EAST has to have singleton spade.

The intial thought was to try and get EAST to duck the Ax of spades. To do this, I have to lead a spade from dummy, so one thought is to win the king and play the JACK (east with two knows I have five, but I might not have the queen to play this way... at least a not massively strong pair might think this). But, sadly, this will not help the cause as when I play the king, EAST can drop the club queen.

So the best strategy is to hold in reserve the possility that EAST has Qx of clubs (or singleton queen). So I will duck the first club in dummy and win the ace. Next I will have to decide which is the best way to execute the planned play. Diamond the King and lead SPADE JACK hoping for a duck or three quick rounds of diamonds with a ruff and a then a spade. Or tricky spade queen from hand hoping WEST ducks from Ax.

In final analysis i win club ACE, play three rounds of diamonds and then lead a spade Spade Queen. Hoping West plays his partner for the stiff the king (when holding Ax). Should EAST win the Spade ACE and exit with the club queen, I will duck the club queen. Should the spade queen win or should WEST win and lead a low club, I will play the club nine, forcing EAST to win the queen. At this point, I will have to get hearts right, unless EAST has doubleton club Queen (and has no spade exit). Should East have a third club, I will win and and play WEST for heart ace...