Defend this 4C contract

[Trumpace]

You are west and you hold:

 

QJ3, JT642, QJ2, Q2

 

North is dealer. The bidding goes.

 

(Pass) - 2S by pard - (X) - Pass by you

3C - Pass - Pass - 3S

Pass - Pass - 4C - All pass.

 

Pard leads the ♠A (from AK) and you see:

 

(Note you are west, dummy is South, at the bottom)

 

[hv=d=n&v=e&w=sqj3hjt642dqj2cq2&s=s9hk53dat863cakt9]266|200|Scoring: Rubber

Lead ♠A by East.[/hv]

 

After winning ♠A, partner switches to the ♦5 (presumably singleton). dummy plays low ♦, you put in the J, declarer (North) wins the K.

 

Declarer then plays a ♣ to A, heart to A, and takes a losing finesse to your ♣Q while pard follows.

 

 

Handviewer link: http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer...3h2hah7c5c6c9cq

 

Now what?

 

(As usual adv/+ please refrain from posting spoilers too soon)

[Trumpace]

I have updated the original post with the handviewer link.

[vuroth]

No reason the 5♦ couldn't be from the 54 doubleton. If I assume partner is single or double in diamonds, declarer is either 3334 or 3244. (With 5 clubs, I don't see declarer trying the finesse.)

 

If it's 3244, we already have a ♠ and a ♣, and the ♦ winner is inevitable. I'm best to lead ♠s, and again when I get in in ♦s. It seems likely that partner has the J♣. If declarer ruffs both spades partner's J♣ would be the setting trick.

 

(Note that leading a ♦ to be ruffed never gains us a trick in this case.)

 

If it's 3334, I think the same line works. Declarer will always be able to throw one major suit loser on the established diamonds, but I think he'll always have 4 losers, especially if partner has the J♣

[Trumpace]

What if partner does not have the ♣J?

 

Maybe declarer would have played two top clubs, instead of {trying for a safety play I guess} playing the preemptor for 4 trumps if he was missing the Q and J?

[Trumpace]

btw, I think the ♠ return is correct too.