652
                                        A109
                                        KJ53
                                        752
        K1094                                                     Q73
        J                                                              K75432
        108642                                                    97
        986                                                          43

                                        AJ8
                                        Q86
                                        AQ
                                        AKQJ10
 

Contract 6 Clubs by South, Jack of Hearts Led.....

What did you do?  It looks like a Singleton Heart, so you have to win with the Ace in Dummy, or otherwise East will win with the King and give his partner a ruff................  What then? Which card did you play from hand?  You did unblock with the Queen didn't you?  If not, you are about to go down, because East will refuse you an entry to dummy by holding up the King until the right moment (duck if you play the Queen, take it if you lead low to the 10).  This entry is needed, because once you have unblocked the AQ of diamonds, you need that entry to cash the King-Jack.

Remember the old rule.... do not play quickly at trick one!

Of course, in no-trumps, you would not have to worry..... you can afford to duck the ace.....
 
 
 

Clive Keep November  2003