[kgr]

Against NT contract partner starts small ♠. (Dummy has 4 small ♠'s.)
I have ♠QJ.
Should I play the J or the Q?

[dwar0123]

kgr, on 2012-October-23, 12:48, said:

Against NT contract partner starts small ♠. (Dummy has 4 small ♠'s.)
I have ♠QJ.
Should I play the J or the Q?

While it would be nice to signal that the honors are tight by playing them in an order reverse of normal, I believe partner will never read you for having the jack if you play the queen.

I think you need to play the jack.

[ArtK78]

The normal play is the J, implying either the Q or no higher honor, and denying the 10.

If you want a switch to another suit, you might play the Q, misleading partner about the location of the J.

[kgr]

Ok tx.
In this situation you probably play honors in reverse order if it is AK tight and you want to play both honors before switching.

[Stephen Tu]

kgr, on 2012-October-23, 15:15, said:

In this situation you probably play honors in reverse order if it is AK tight and you want to play both honors before switching.

Hmm, I don't think this is right vs. a notrump contract. I think normally play honors out of normal order (ace then king) is request for partner to unblock. E.g. partner found lead from Qxx, managed to hit you with AKJxx, dummy xxx, you want to play AK in case opener doubleton Q, and want partner to unblock the Q if he had Qxx. But if he hit you with AKx, declarer Jxxx, you play normal to avoid debacle of partner unblocking and you only get 2 trick in suit.

Vs. notrump, if you play K then ace then switch with a doubleton, I think partner will work out you had to switch as you'd normally lead back the third card!

Vs. suit, fine, you can play out of order to show doubleton, unblocking suit less likely come in to play.

[Codo]

Usually you can have both: Partner can read whether you hold AKJxx or AK from the bidding. Not always, but maybe 95 % of the time...

To the original question: It depends:
1. Do I want partner to switch? It may be right to disclose the jack.
2. Am I the one who will gain the lead? This is often not clear. But if I am quite certain, I can try the queen then the jack as a wake up for partner... Of course this should wake up deeclarer too.

All in all, it is a rare bird to play the queen in 3. seat.