Axx/Jxx

[kenrexford]

You are Declaring 3NT. The key is avoiding too many spade losers. Dummy has Axx. You have Jxx in hand. An "x" is completely an "x." The opponents will get back in, once.

 

The sole clue to the spade layout is that LHO opened a weak 2♥.

 

So, consider two possibilities:

 

1. The opening lead is a small spade, ducked to the Queen to the right. RHO fires back the spade 10.

 

2. Same lead, but won by the King. RHO fires back the 10.

 

Now, shift gears. The opening lead is not a spade. However, to make 3NT, you must set up diamonds. You may lose the lead twice to RHO, in the diamond suit.

 

3. The first time that you lose the lead, the spade 10 comes back.

4. The first time that you lose the lead, the spade King comes back, LHO encouraging. You lose the lead again and see the 10.

5. The first time that you lose the lead, the spade Queen comes back, LHO encouraging. You lose the lead again and see the 10.

 

Any thoughts here?

[Quantumcat]

I will have a go.

 

1 & 2: What does RHO have? With three, LHO has four which can't happen and with two, LHO has five, even more impossible. If RHO had four or five he would have led back a low one.

 

Is there something I'm missing?

 

3. RHO has to have at least four spades. What could he possibly have that he would lead the ten from? Okay maybe he leads random cards. In that case,

 

if he has Txxx, don't cover then win your ace over LHO's second honour for the jack to be a stop. If he has KTxx, there's always an honour after your ace so I'm not sure what to do, whatever you do he'll be able to knock the ace out this round?? If he has KQTx you have to cover with the jack ...

 

4. LHO has to have the queen to encourage, if you win the ace then cover the ten, LHO will have a small one to lead back. If you win the ace then don't cover the ten, the jack is a second stop.

 

5. Exactly the same as above?

 

When you say that an x is completely an x, does that mean if you play low they will win with a low card? In that case I don't know how to approach any of them, your honours are completely tenaced both ways, right?