Source: [ilink url=”http://www.acbl.org/”]2006 ACBL Bulletins[/ilink]
A two-way guess for a missing queen often begins as a 50-50 proposition, but a capable declarer will guess right at least 75% of the time by constructing the defenders’ hands, using clues from the bidding and play. Test your queen-placing in
the following problems. IMP scoring.
West leads the
J, and East takes the
K and continues with the
A. Who has the
Q?
Each defender has one of the missing high diamonds. If East had both he’d have opened the bidding; if West had both, his opening lead would bave been a high diamond. Since East would have opened the bidding, especially in third position,
with the
A K, a diamond honor and the
Q, West has the
Q.
West leads the
K and shifts to a trump. You draw trumps, finding East with J-9- 8. Who has the
Q?
Each defender has a high heart. If East had both, he’d have responded to West’ s opening bid; if West had both, he’d have shifted to a high heart at the second trick. Since East would have had enough points to respond to the opening bid with a
heart honor, the
J and the
Q, West has the
Q . When South get around to playing the clubs, he’ll probably lead the
J for a backward finesse. When West covers, South will take the ace and return a club to his 8.
West leads the
Q, and East takes the ace and shifts to the
10. West takes the queen and ace, East showing out, and leads a third club that East ruffs low. Back comes a low heart, and you take your king. Who has the
Q?
East had one club. He has at least four hearts to respond 1
, but can’t have more than four since West needed three cards support to raise. Since neither defender bid spades, they’re likely 4-4. Play East for 4-4-4-1 distribution. Lead to the
A and let the
9 ride.

