[Badmonster]

If P leads the A from AK (Or K from AK if that's your agreement) and you hold the qj do you play the queen to show the jack?

[TimG]

Playing the Jack denies the Queen. (Which you may want to do from time to time.)

[jtfanclub]

TimG, on Jul 9 2007, 10:55 AM, said:

Playing the Jack denies the Queen. (Which you may want to do from time to time.)

Not so simple. In the U.S., if I understand these things correctly, leading the K from AK asks you to give attitude, where the jack is clear. But if they lead the ace, asking you to unblock...I don't know which is right. I would throw the queen, but I don't know if that's correct.

[pclayton]

jtfanclub, on Jul 9 2007, 08:31 AM, said:

TimG, on Jul 9 2007, 10:55 AM, said:

Playing the Jack denies the Queen.  (Which you may want to do from time to time.)

Not so simple. In the U.S., if I understand these things correctly, leading the K from AK asks you to give attitude, where the jack is clear. But if they lead the ace, asking you to unblock...I don't know which is right. I would throw the queen, but I don't know if that's correct.

No, it is that simple. Jack denies the Queen. Always.

The Queen promises the Jack, unless:

1. Its a stiff (duh))

2. It was a lead against NT which demanded an unblock (Ace or King depending on convention).

3. It is suit preference play when 3rd hand has length and the Queen can't cost a trick. Dummy probably has shortness too.

4. It is some sort of "alarm clock" signal asking pard to wake up and do something unusual.

[jtfanclub]

pclayton, on Jul 9 2007, 11:44 AM, said:

2. It was a lead against NT which demanded an unblock (Ace or King depending on convention).

That's my question (I couldn't tell if it was his). If partner is demanding an unblock, and you have, say QJ2, do you play the Q or the J?

[TimG]

jtfanclub, on Jul 9 2007, 11:49 AM, said:

pclayton, on Jul 9 2007, 11:44 AM, said:

2. It was a lead against NT which demanded an unblock (Ace or King depending on convention).

That's my question (I couldn't tell if it was his). If partner is demanding an unblock, and you have, say QJ2, do you play the Q or the J?

Can you construct a combination where partner would ask for an unblock missing the Queen and Jack and it would matter to him which you played from QJ2?

[pclayton]

jtfanclub, on Jul 9 2007, 08:49 AM, said:

pclayton, on Jul 9 2007, 11:44 AM, said:

2. It was a lead against NT which demanded an unblock (Ace or King depending on convention).

That's my question (I couldn't tell if it was his). If partner is demanding an unblock, and you have, say QJ2, do you play the Q or the J?

Well, if we agree that the lead of an Ace asks for an unblock, its hard to construct a holding of pard's where he would want to lead a card asking for an unblock when we are looking at QJx. Normally a 'power' lead indicates a semi-solid suit like AKJT, but I suppose its possible in certain contexts that pard has AKT9, since AQT9 is possible too.

You would pitch the Q in this circumstance. You don't promise the Jack, but it can't be ruled out either. The Jack would still deny the queen.

On Saturday, Harvey led the A from AQJ9xxx against 3N that the opponents stumbled into. I unblocked with Kx, which turned out to be non-essential, since pard has an outside Ace - not unlikely with this lead.

[jtfanclub]

Ok, thank you.

Quote

Can you construct a combination where partner would ask for an unblock missing the Queen and Jack and it would matter to him which you played from QJ2?

Hmmm...possibly, but I can't think of any at the moment.

[Badmonster]

It's been four years. I've been playing for four years. Here! How come no one told me?

[TimG]

Badmonster, on Jul 9 2007, 08:28 PM, said:

It's been four years. I've been playing for four years. Here! How come no one told me?

You haven't been reading the right books.

[goobers]

In general, playing an unnecessarily high honor shows the honor(s) below it and denies the ones above it.