[Added: This would not have worked as the cards lay, and I am thinking it was not the best line.]
I am pretty sure that I would start by assuming that the clubs are no worse than 4-2. Of course I might change my mind later. Some of this will depend on what happens as the hand goes on.
So up with the !c K at T1. If Rho follows with the J I will have to decide what to make of that but suppose he follows low. I suppose if clubs were 3-3 this hand would not be posted, but at the table I don't know that so I now lead the
8 to the A. If either side shows out then we are done with the
suit, but perhaps everyone follows? Perhaps it should now depend on just who followed with what, but I think I now lead the
Q and throw the
Q from the table. I suppose someone shows out. I have now pretty much committed myself to playing another round of
. This brings me up to 4+2+1+4=11 sure tricks. I hope to not have to take any finesses. On that fourth
I will pitch the
5 from dummy.
Now they are in, but who is in? Could be either way. If Lho is in, surely he gets out by leading a
else he hands me my 12th trick. If it is Rho with four
, it is probably best for him to get out with a
as well. That
3 is a (highly) recessed menace and killing the entry is no doubt right. But if Rho wins the 4th
and he then leads a red card I will take my three red winners and end in hand, and cash the last
throwing the last red card from the table. The board now has
AKQJ3 and my hand is
8 /
J3 /
T3. If
are 4-3 I am home, but also I am home if either opponent started with long
together with either the
K or rhe
Q since he must hold on to all of his
.
So most likely the opponents, when in with the
, play a
. This kills the entry for the squeeze I was hoping for, but all is not lost. Small
to the A, cash the
throwing the
J from the table, back to the board with the
K, maybe the Q drops and I claim, if not I run the top
. If they split. fine. If not, the end position will be
3 and
7 on the board,
AT in my hand. If
haven't split, who has the length? If Lho has the
length then he has only one red card left. I will have to decide whether he blanked his
T or whether it lies no my right. Of course if Rho was dealt the
Q then he had to hold on to that so maybe the double squeeze, centered on
, has worked. i will have to judge this the end.