Deceptive plays


	Deceptive Plays
	Concealing information

Imagine you hold AKx of the suit which is led and the J is played on your right, does it make a difference whether it's a suit or a notrump contract as to which card with which you win the 1st trick.
Yes, win with the K in a notrump contract as the whereabouts of the A will be unknown to at least one defender whereas w3inning with the A will almost certainly reveal the K as you would have ducked the 1st trick if you had only one guard. In a suit contract win with the A hiding the K as neither defender would have either underled or not played the A on the 1st trick.

Now you hold KQx in a notrump contract and again the J comes up on your right, win with the K concealing the Q from your left hand opponent whereas winning with the Q would have revealed you hold the K as your right hand opponent would have played it if he had it.

Lets look at another situation

Qxx

West leads the A in a trump contract what would you drop. Well you want a continuation so you peter playing the 5 so East could have your 2 and be petering thereby tempting West into continuing so peter when you want a continuation and vice versa.

Contract 3NT. Lead 6

xx Axx QJ10xx Qxx AQx KQJx Axxx xx	West leads the 6ª against 3nt and east produces the J. The contract seems to rest on a sucessful diamond finesse but what if it's wrong. Imagine you win the Qª cross to dummy and take a losing diamond finesse west is bound to switch to clubs but put yourself in west's position if you win the 1st trick with Aª and take a losing diamond finesse, he's bound to think his partner has Qª unless you've lost the plot and he will continue with a spade and look perplexed when you win the Q and claim 10 tricks.

Obligatory falsecards:

AJxxx
Qxx	You hold 109x and declarer finesses the J,drop the nine giving declarer a losing option of playing the Q next to pin your 10

x
KQ98xxx	You hold J10x and declarer plays small to the K, drop the 10 giving him a losing option of the Q next to drop your J

AQ10 8
Kxxx	You hold J9xx and declarer leads low towards the A & Q play the 9, he can now pick up Jxxx with east, he has a losing option

AJx
Q9xxx	You hold K108x and declarer finesses the J, play the 8 giving him a losing option of next time leading the Q in order to scoop your 10 or pick up K10xx with west for the loss of only 1 trick

AJx
K9xx	You hold Q10x onside and declarer finesses the J the cashes the A, drop the Q the card you're known to hold leaving declarer an option of finessing the 9 on the next round

xx
AJ98xx	You hold 106x and declarer leads low from dummy to his 9 and partners Q and then plays again from dummy, play the 10 the card you're known to hold. Had you played small and declarer needed the rest he would have no option but to drop your partners K as you can no longer have K10x