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Locating a queen...? **
Monday, 01 February 2010 07:00
S/EW
A 10 8 6 5 4 3  
 4 3
K 10 7
6
  windroos  
    
 Q J 9 7 2 
9 8 2
A J 2
A J

WestNorthEastSouth
---1
241pass42
pass43pass
pass
pass
   

1 Splinter: singleton or void in clubs, good spade fit, slam invitational
2 Control bid
3 No control in hearts

West leads the A (East the 10), continues with the K (East 7) and then plays the J.
How should South play?

Solution

Declarer has lost two heart tricks and is in danger of losing a trick to the K now, despite having twelve spades in the combined hands. After all, East is out of hearts and if he has the K, that card is now promoted. After losing a trick to the K, declarer may subsequently also lose a trick to the Q.
He can ruff with any low trump in dummy. If East does not have the K, the contract is safe. If East overruffs and plays back a club, declarer may still locate the Q.
However, some players hardly ever find a queen. For instance Peter found his last queen in 1974 (Ed exaggerates, as usual: as late as 1982 I found a queen and I am still married to her, -Peter).
There is a better line of play, especially for players like him.

S/EWA 10 8 6 5 4 3
 
 4 3
K 10 7
6
-windroosK
A K Q J 6 5
10 7
9 6 4
Q 8 5 3
K 7 5 4
Q 10 9 8 3 2
 Q J 9 7 2 
9 8 2
A J 2
A J

Declarer ruffs with the A. He is now certain to lose a trick to the K but equally certain not to lose a trick to the Q: he cashes the A, ruffs the J and exits with a trump.
Whoever wins with the K has to play a diamond (allowing declarer a free finesse) or give declarer a ruff and discard in clubs, in which the diamond loser disappears from one of the hands.
 

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