Plan the play

[AL78]

IMP pairs:

 

[hv=pc=n&s=sat4hk85dkj43ck95&n=sq82hat72d762ca73&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=pp1nppp]266|200[/hv]

 

LHO leads the ♣6, 4th highest. Plan the play.

[mikeh]

These are always frustrating hands simply because there is usually, though not always, a line that will succeed on any given lie of the cards, yet each such line might well fail on another equally likely lie.

 

Here, my initial thinking would be that west probably has 5 clubs, for two reasons.

 

One is he led a minor with n this auction. The other is the size of the spot.

 

However, it’s possible that he has 6.

 

In any event the rule of 11 tells us that RHO has one card higher than the 6 and it won’t be the 8 since west would lead a systemic honour from QJ106x(x)

 

I duck the lead in both hands. On a very good day, east has a singleton 10/Jack/Queen and has to break a suit for me.

 

If he has a second club, I win in dummy and lead a diamond to the Jack.

 

That’s as far as I’d plan in real life. I’d know at least something more by the time that play ended, and that something more would play a role in what I do next.