Partner raises to 6NT and the J is led. How will you avoid getting painted into a corner?
Choose One:
Win in dummy and lead the J.
Win in either hand and play the K and then finesse the J.
Win in either hand and test spades with the AKQ. If they are 3-3, you have 11 tricks; next work on the hearts.
Win in either hand and test spades with the AKQ. If they are 3-3, you have 11 tricks; next work on the clubs (finesse to the J).
Win in either hand and play A, K and another heart. If they are 3-3, try spades next and if that fails, take a finesse to the J.
Other
Answer: 6 -
Other.
Everything in answers 1-5 puts all of your eggs in too small a basket.
You have 10 top tricks (3 spades, 2 hearts, 3 diamonds, 2 clubs).
You need 2 more.
They can come from either spades, hearts, or clubs.
If you try spades first and the are 4-2, you have set up a defensive spade trick. You will need both the club finesse and 3-3 hearts. But, when you lose a heart, the opponents will have a spade to cash. No good.
If you try the club finesse first and it loses, you will also go down even if you find both majors 3-3 (the opponents will get a heart and a club).
The correct play is to duck a heart in both hands at trick 2!
That lets you try all 3 chances. After you lose the heart, you win any return.
You test for 3-3 hearts. You test for 3-3 spades. If both behave, you have 12 tricks. If only one of them behaves, you can still try the club finesse.
You will make if any 2 out of the 3 possibilities come home.
The full deal is:
The opponents will win the heart at trick 2.
When you regain the lead and test both majors, you will see that the 3-3 hearts gets you to 11 tricks. When you see spades are 4-2, you get to still try the club finesse to make your contract. Yes, if you got lucky, some of the wrong lines of play might work. However, the stated line takes advantage of any 2 out of 3.