[kenrexford]

I saw an interesting play last night.

MP. You are defending 3NT. Dummy has KQxxx in a suit. Dummy has no easy entries other than in this suit, assuming Declarer has the Ace of the suit. Partner seems unlikely to have the Ace, because, say, he passed a one-level opening by you. You have Jx in that suit. On opening lead, you put Declarer in a situation where another lead of your suit through his hand will mean doom.

So, when Declarer leads a small card toward KQxxx, you pop Jack.

The play gives Declarer in an interesting losing play that he may actually have been catering to before you even thought of the play. He may well have Axx and be playing small toward KQxxx, planning to win the Queen, return to the Ace, small to the King, and run the suit. However, he may be playing this suit in this order because he intends to duck if you play your "stiff" Jack, as a hedge against the suit splitting 4-1, with your partner having 10xxx. Ducking your "stiff" Jack protects his receipt of four tricks from the suit and keeps your partner off the lead. If you play the Jack, a card that looks a lot like a stiff, he might duck.

[Phil]

Good reason to lay down the Ace first, don't you think?

Don't forget to play the jack in this combo however:

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[kenrexford]

Phil, on May 29 2009, 09:53 AM, said:

Good reason to lay down the Ace first, don't you think?

Don't forget to play the jack in this combo however:

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If you lay down the Ace first, you lose when LHO actually has the stiff Jack and RHO has 10xxx.

[Phil]

kenrexford, on May 29 2009, 10:11 AM, said:

Phil, on May 29 2009, 09:53 AM, said:

Good reason to lay down the Ace first, don't you think?

Don't forget to play the jack in this combo however:

KQ765 J9 A43 T82

If you lay down the Ace first, you lose when LHO actually has the stiff Jack and RHO has 10xxx.

OK, didn't catch the part about keeping RHO off lead.