It is fairly well known among experts that there is a right and a wrong way to play this combination for four tricks:

♥A1098

♥KQJ7

If you are not an expert, or you are but you have not considered this layout before, give the matter some thought before reading on. Assume for simplicity that you do not care in which hand you win the fourth round of the suit, which will divide 3-2 or 2-3.

The idea is to cash South's king and queen, then lead the jack. If West follows, overtake with the ace and lead from dummy. If West shows out, allow the jack to hold and lead from your hand.

This way, the opponent who has to make two discards must do so without seeing his partner's only discard. Particularly in pseudo-squeeze positions, or in situations where you will have to guess the distribution in the endgame, forcing an opponent to commit himself with the minimum amount of information can be valuable.

The other day I was confronted with a play problem involving this trump suit

♠KJ

♠AQ862

You cannot deal with a 6-0 or 5-1 break; assume otherwise. What is the correct way to play this suit? Indeed, what is the correct way to play the slam below at matchpoints on the opening lead of ♣10, West using standard honour leads and East playing the three using low to encourage or show an even number? Moan about the bidding beforehand like you always do, of course.