duck or not, diamonds or clubs?

[Free]

The auction went:

1♦-3NT

 

Not a great auction, but in light of protecting all the Kings it's understandable.

 

LHO leads ♥Q and you see:

[hv=d=n&v=n&n=s932ha87da542cqj3&s=sk75hk3dkj63ck942]133|200|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

2 questions (basically "how do you plan the play"):

- do you duck the first trick? (if you do, LHO will continue ♥

J

- exact card hidden)

- do you start with creating your ♣ or with ♦?

[temp3600]

First I don't duck, because if I do they can switch to spades, set up 5 tricks, and my chances are now very thin.

Since I am going to need some club tricks, I want to knock out the ♣A immediately. I would like to play twice from my hand towards ♣QJx, but entries are a problem.

 

I take the first trick with the ♥K, and lead a club to the Q. I then continue clubs (♣J and club) until they take their ace. Here's what I'm thinking about at this point : 1) do I know if I have 2 or 3 club tricks?

2) do I duck a heart return if I'm sure West will win the trick? probably yes

3) what if East wins the ♣A and fires the ♠Q or ♠J? depends heavily on 1)

4) don't forget to unblock the ♦6 under the ♦A. The fourth round of diamonds might be a vital entry to dummy

[Joe de Balliol]

I'm also winning in hand and playing the Queen of Clubs.

 

J