Knave?

[nige1]

[hv=pc=n&s=sa74hak94dajtcat3&n=sj53h872dkq9ck974&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=pp2nP3c(Puppet Stayman)p3d(no 5CM)p3nppp]266|200|

 

Scottish National League (IMPs and VPs)

Against your 3N, West leads ♠6 (2nd and 4th).

What do you play from dummy?[/hv]

[Tramticket]

Good question. The traditional lead again NT with KQXX(X) is the fourth highest. But I am finding that opps are increasingly leading the K (I blame Anthias and Bird).

 

But unless I know that they would lead the K from this holding, I probably try the J.

[The_Badger]

There are so many cards in ♠s missing that it probably doesn't make any difference except on the odd chance that West has led away from KQxx(x) so if you don't play the J on the first round, you don't give yourself that miniscule opportunity to grab a trick just in case ♣s don't behave. ♠J trick one

[paulg]

Although I would play the jack, it is the losing play when RHO has king doubleton. So it is not without risk.

[Winstonm]

Who is sitting East? ;)

 

With K109x or Q109x the choice may have been the 10, so it seems less likely east will have a tough guess holding K8x or Q8x so I would try the J.

[gszes]

We do not know for sure if the lead is from length or trying to hit partner. Playing the J at trick 1 gives us our 9th trick immediately if lho lead from KQ(xxx). If rho covers we intend to duck 2 rounds anyway and then try to figure a way to scramble a 9th trick.

[nige1]

West led from KQ862, so the winning play is the knave. IMO it's also the correct play. As the Badger and Gszes write, one reason is that it can provide you with the game-going trick. I played low with the half-baked idea of blocking the suit if RHO has K or Q doubleton.

[Cyberyeti]

West led from KQ862, so the winning play is the knave. IMO it's also the correct play. As Gszes writes, one reason is that it can provide you with the game-going trick. I carelessly played low with the half-baked idea of blocking the suit if RHO has K or Q doubleton.

 

What was the whole hand, that isn't fatal in itself

[cherdano]

What was the whole hand, that isn't fatal in itself

Clubs split 1-5, and West had the HQ.

[Cyberyeti]

Clubs split 1-5, and West had the HQ.

 

Can still be made if that's the case, but you're likely to go wrong.

[nige1]

[hv=pc=n&s=sa74hak94dajtcat3&n=sj53h872dkq9ck974&e=ST9HJ3D8743CQJ862&d=n&v=0&a=pp2nP3c(Puppet Stayman)p3d(no 5CM)p3nppp]400|300|

Scottish National League (IMPs and VPs)

Against your 3N, West leads ♠6 (2nd and 4th).

What do you play from dummy?

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

The full deal is on the left.

I was the only South to fail in 3N :)

I played low from dummy on the ♠ lead :(

As Cyberyeti writes, I might have recovered by ducking ♠s and guessing ♣s.[/hv]

[Tramticket]

As Cyberyeti writes, I might have recovered by ducking ♠s and guessing ♣s.[/hv]

 

That would be a strange line to taken, given that west will have two further spades to cash if the club finesse fails!