A defensive problem
from the Swiss Pairs at the Lancashire congress.
Against three notrump
on the above auction you lead the queen of hearts, conventionally
asking partner to unblock the jack if he has it. Unusually
partner obliges with the heart jack and declarer ducks. You
follow with a suit preference king of hearts again ducked partner
following and a third heart won by declarer while North throws a
spade and partner the three of diamonds. Declarer now plays the
two of diamonds to the jack and partner's king. Partner returns
the two of spades which declarer wins quickly with the ace.
Declarer now plays a diamond to the ace, and the jack of diamonds
overtaken with the queen and then the ten of diamonds. What have
you discarded and why?
Solution
Declarer's quick play of the spade ace and partner's return of the two suggest that declarer has 1444 shape, in which case you need to hold on to four clubs and a heart, so discard your king and queen of spades and a heart. The full deal was
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