Posted 2015-February-18, 14:58
I truly don't like 6♥. Yes, we hold 6 controls, which is excellent for a strong 1N, and we hold the diamond 10, but we have only 3 trumps, and partner's announced club shortness doesn't improve our hand one bit.
Methods count, and what I would do over 4♣ depends on what 3♥ meant. For me, 3♥ is stronger than 4♥ and I would be content to bid 4♥ over 4♣, having already promised more than a minimum. Were it otherwise, I'd like to bid 4♦ if that was known to be a last train bid, but I don't like it as such, even if last train were an I/A gadget...this really is an auction in which the limited opening hand should be able to convey, with certainty, possession of a diamond control.
So I think that I'd always be bidding 4♥ here, after the 4♣ cue downgraded my hand.
As to the play: rise with the Q, assume it is covered. We are in trouble, deservedly so. We need a lot of luck. Even if we could bring the clubs home for 5 winners, through Qxx onside, we still end up needing to guess the diamonds, so it makes little sense to hook the club. Take the top clubs, ditching a spade, and table a diamond. It is usually a tiny technical error to lead the 10 in this suit combination, since the stiff Q could appear, but we're down anyway if it does.
While there are layouts in which playing to the diamond K works, and running the 10 fails, playing low to the K and then back loses on some fairly common layouts even when the A is onside. Meanwhile, so long as the Q is onside, you are more strongly favoured to make by leading the 10, intending to run it if not covered.
'one of the great markers of the advance of human kindness is the howls you will hear from the Men of God' Johann Hari