[carmelbobc]

Other things being equal, how should you play:

Txx opposite AKJxx

I first played to the A, both opponents following low. Then back to my hand and led the T. W played the 9.

What next and why?

Thanks, CarmelBobC

[Tramticket]

The precise X's might matter, but let's assume that your X's are very low and you need 5 tricks. You can only make 5 tricks if the suit breaks 3-2: you obviously can't win 5 if RHO has QXXX and you can't win 5 if LHO has Q987 (say) and covers the 10.

So your two possibilities after cashing the ace are: (1) run the 10 and finesse against LHO - suceeds in 50% of 3-2 situations; or (2) play ace and king, hoping for QX in either hand - succeeds in 40% of 3-2 situations.

[nige1]

CarmelBobCasks how to play this combination. There are lots of useful on-line references, for example BridgeCCAnalyzer Such authorities tell us to cash ♠A (in case a defender has singleton ♠Q) before finessing ♠J. On the 2nd round, as CarmelBobC implies, you might as well advance ♠T...
-- RHO might be careless enough to fail to cover from ♠Qxxx.
-- If you know that RHO religiously covers an honour with an honour then you might rise with ♠K -- hoping to drop LHO's doubleton ♠Q.

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As TramTicket points out, prospects are brighter if you hold ♠ intermediates. For example, suppose defenders' cards lie as on the left. On the 2nd round, you lead ♠T, and RHO covers. You can pick up RHO's ♠Q9xx or ♠Q8xx for no losers -- provided you can get back to the North hand for a second ♠ finesse.

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With the slightly different layout on the left, however, it's best to take 2 immediate finesses. You lose to ♠Q singleton or doubleton but win if LHO has other holdings.

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