Seeing Through Cards #6

Note: This is an intermediate level problem.

West leads the ♣4 against 3NT. Declarer plays low from dummy.

1. Where is the ♣A?
2. Where is the ♣J?
3. How will you play?

Solution:

1. Where is the ♣A?
   With partner! He led a low club so he must have at least 1 honor. So declarer cannot have ♣AJ. If partner would have the ♣J and declarer the ♣A, declarer would surely play the ♣Q at trick 1, hoping that the ♣K is with West. With Qx you need to play the Q most of the times, also as 2nd hand.
2. Where is the ♣J?
   With South. West's lead (4th best) suggest he has 4 or 5 (if he has the ♣3) cards in club. If declarer doesn't hold the ♣J he would surely try to play the ♣Q. His only hope would be to find West with AKxxx (or AKxx). So declarer has ♣Jx or ♣Jx3 and he hopes that either West has both high honors (and then he wins with the ♣J) or you have 1 of them and... you might make a mistake, playing the 10 or the 9, in an attempt to spare your ♣K seeing ♣Q in dummy.
3. How will you play?
   Win the ♣K and continue with the ♣10 to prevent blocking the suit. Partner will win South's ♣J with his ♣A, continue with his ♣3 (and by that will confirm he started with 5 cards) to your ♣9 and you will continue with your ♣7 to his ♣8. His last club (the ♣6) sets the contract. If you try to play in any other way you will block the suit and West will not be able to cash his last club.

Things to remember:

• When you lead 4th best and your suit is longer than 4 cards, it is important to play the 5th card later to help parter understand you hold at least 5 cards.
• As declarer (and sometimes as defender), you sometimes need to play an honor as 2nd hand, if it's doubleton. For example:
  
  

  a	b	c	d	e
  Qx	Jx	Qx	Qx	Qx
  Kxx	AKx	KTx	Axx	ATx

  • a) Play the Q as 2nd hand. If you play low, East will play the T or J. You will win your K, but your Q is now singleton and will fall to the Ace next round.
  • b) Play the J, hoping that West underlead his Q. If you have AK9, pay attention to the lead! If West has lead a low card (promising an honor) - play the J. If West lead the 8 (2nd, denying honor but promising the T) - play low, capturing East's Q.
  • c) Play low. Your precious T will guarantee two tricks no matter what East plays.
  • d) Play the Q, hoping that West had underled his K.
  • e) Play low. The T guarantees two tricks.
• If dummy's clubs are ♣Qxx and dummy plays low, play the ♣9. (Even if partner has the ♣A, it's useless to play the ♣K as the ♣Q will get promoted.
• What will you do if West leads the ♣6 and dummy plays low from ♣Qx? Partner's lead is probably from ♣8643 (unlikelt from ♣AJ86, because in that case declarer would probably try the ♣Q) so you need to play the ♣9 to prevent declarer from establishing 3 tricks in the suit. (Declarer will win his ♣J but later you win his ♣Q with the ♣K and promote your ♣T).