Which card would you play........?

[Dinarius]

This is not a trick question! :)

 

Defenders are playing 4th highest leads.

 

You are in a NT trump contract - after no opposition bidding.

 

West leads the 4 of a suit. Dummy (North) puts down K,10,2 of that suit, and Declarer holds Q,5,3.

 

Which card do you play from Dummy.

 

Thanks.

 

D.

[mgoetze]

I really don't see the point of trying to answer this without knowing the full hands and the form of scoring.

[Dinarius]

I really don't see the point of trying to answer this without knowing the full hands and the form of scoring.

 

I totally disagree. It's a straightforward question.

 

Thanks for your input.

 

D.

[billw55]

Of course the full conditions might make a difference. With nothing else to go on, I will try the ten from dummy.

[awm]

Playing ten gives me immediate info which can help plan (I will know if I have two stoppers). Against this, playing low gives some chance of a defensive error (say RHO has J76, he may play jack in case partner lead from AQ84 or the like rather than figuring to play low). In general I'm likely to play low from dummy most often.

[manudude03]

For me, a lot depends on the opponents and who is more likely to get in. Against weak opponents, I would play always small expecting the A or J if they aren't both onside. Against stronger players I would play the ten if I thought LHO would get in before RHO, or otherwise low. I would hate to play small and then when LHO gets in again, leads another small card forcing me to guess whether to play the king or the ten when I could have made it a lot easier by playing the ten before. However, similarly playing the ten would make it easier for RHO to find a potentially killing switch if they realise that we are definitely taking 2 tricks in the suit led.

[Cyberyeti]

I totally disagree. It's a straightforward question.

 

Thanks for your input.

 

D.

 

It makes a huge difference if I'm playing 1N or 6N, and also if the auction is 1N-3N or whether suits have been bid which may have put off particular leads.

 

Presuming 3N can also make a difference if I have to take finesses in a particular direction and whether I can control which defender gets in next. Also pairs/teams may make a difference.

 

In abstract, Jxxx is not a desperately attractive lead (but might he have been put off other things), so is Axxx or AJxx more likely. I can cope in both cases by playing low. Also what do they lead from xxx(x)

[rhm]

Assuming no special considerations from the the rest of my combined holding applies the ten almost guarantees 2 tricks and 2 stoppers in the suit.

This assumes opening leader would lead second best or the highest if he had no honor in the suit.

But even if he does not the ten is high percentage for two tricks.

Playing low from dummy is a serious error.

 

Rainer Herrmann

[Cyberyeti]

Assuming no special considerations from the the rest of my combined holding applies the ten almost guarantees 2 tricks and 2 stoppers in the suit.

This assumes opening leader would lead second best or the highest if he had no honor in the suit.

But even if he does not the ten is high percentage for two tricks.

Playing low from dummy is a serious error.

 

Rainer Herrmann

 

In my world, the lead is from the A with or without the J far more often than from the J without the A if the opening leader has a free choice unless the standard is very bad.

[nige1]

This is not a trick question! :)

Defenders are playing 4th highest leads.

You are in a NT trump contract - after no opposition bidding.

West leads the 4 of a suit. Dummy (North) puts down K,10,2 of that suit, and Declarer holds Q,5,3.

Which card do you play from Dummy.

Agree with rhm: Normally the ten, unless special considerations apply. For example if RHO has bid the suit, then the king is usually best.

 

 

 

[wanoff]

In my world, the lead is from the A with or without the J far more often than from the J without the A if the opening leader has a free choice unless the standard is very bad.

 

So, as he said low is a serious error.

[Phil]

Playing ten gives me immediate info which can help plan (I will know if I have two stoppers). Against this, playing low gives some chance of a defensive error (say RHO has J76, he may play jack in case partner lead from AQ84 or the like rather than figuring to play low). In general I'm likely to play low from dummy most often.

 

AQ84/AQ74 is a weird lead but RHO may think his partner has AQ8xx hops J presenting us with a double stopper. And if RHO decides to finesse LHO may not understand the layout and switch anyway. Or RHO gets in first anyway.

 

Sorry but it depends on the whole hand. I might need 2 tricks and not have the luxury later to hook. This may have a spillover effect on another suit.

[wank]

of course you play the 10, despite all the waffly non-responses. many people play that they lead a higher card without an honour in which case you're guaranteed 2 stops if you play the 10.

[Caitlynne]

It will depend on the specifics of the entire deal. There could be reasons to play the King, 10, or 2. But, if your question is about handling the suit combination in isolation, the correct play unequivocally is the 2 from Dummy. You can finesse later against the Ace or Jack if the Ace or Jack does not appear from third hand.

[Cyberyeti]

So, as he said low is a serious error.

 

err, why, win in hand then play to dummy's high honour is guaranteed 2 tricks if LHO has the A. If I prefer to win trick 1 in dummy I might try the 10.

[kuhchung]

err, why, win in hand then play to dummy's high honour is guaranteed 2 tricks if LHO has the A. If I prefer to win trick 1 in dummy I might try the 10.

 

how many does it guarantee if LHO has the J

[Zelandakh]

how many does it guarantee if LHO has the J

CY already wrote that he thinks a lead from Jxxx much less likely (in the general case at least) than from the ace.

[kuhchung]

CY already wrote that he thinks a lead from Jxxx much less likely (in the general case at least) than from the ace.

 

and you gained by playing low how?

[wank]

good players are more likely to lead from jxxx+ than axxx+

[alok c]

♠10,always gains for devided honours or when both honours are with LHO.

[Buty2008]

I learned this game long time ago. Basic rule second in trick play low. Rule of 11: 11-4 (value of lead card)-4 (dummy's & declarer's higher cards number)= 3 higher cards in RHO give no useful info.

I stick to 2nd play low:

If A or J comes out from RHO I have 2 tricks in suit.

If I use the Q to cover a smaller card I will play any finesse from hand to dummy to let RHO return the suit.

Worse case if LHO get to lead again low in the same suit. Then I need to guess if A or J are in LHO hand.

To play 10 is based on premise that 4 is lead from a suit with an honor (A or J):

If RHO play small I have 2 tricks in suit.

If RHO play J I win with Q, than I play small to dummy's K.

If RHO play A I have 2 tricks in suit.

It seem 10 is better but exist the case LHO has lead from 4 small cards suit. RHO with AJx, cover 10 with J, and dummy's K with ace and is able to play his 3rd card to give LHO 2 more tricks in suit. That is really bad.

Here come the need to know how high is NT contract.

In a 1NT contract declarer has no long suit to play its winners and get more clues about what values are in LHO or RHO hands & no other winners in dummy to play low toward that.

In a higher NT contract is supposed declarer & dummy have a number of straight winners that can be played to force LHO or RHO to drop a card from leading suit, making things clear.

[billw55]

I will try writing this out long form. The key is to imagine cases where it matters if I play the ten or low.

 

Case 1, LHO holds the A and J: I am always getting two tricks. Conclusion: no difference between low and ten.

 

Case 2, honors are split: I make two tricks by playing the ten. If I play low, I will have to guess correctly on the second round. RHO may occasionally play an honor on trick one in error, giving me two tricks. However this does not gain since playing the ten always makes two tricks anyway. Conclusion: the ten is better.

 

Case 3, RHO has both honors: If he has AJx, then I cannot make two tricks legitimately. However, if I play low from dummy he might play an honor, depending on his spot card. If I play the ten I have no chance. If he has AJ tight, low makes two tricks automatically, although this may be unlikely based on the apparent 4th best lead. Meanwhile the ten still fails, as I am never playing to drop the ace on the second round. Conclusion: low is better.

 

So basically I must decide if case 2 or case 3 is more likely. I think it is pretty clear that case 2 is more likely: xxxx is not an appealing suit to lead, and also some players will lead a higher spot from this holding. Not to mention that split honors is twice as likely on statistics alone. Final conclusion: the ten is better.

 

Of course this ignores other possible considerations. For example, the inference that xxxx is an unappealing lead is up for debate: this may not be valid if the auction warned against other suits, or if the contract is 6NT, or if the player is weak. Or the full deal may present other issues in the play. But absent any of that, the ten is clearly correct.