LEARNING CENTER

1NT. Not enough to go to the 2 level. 1NT is 6-10 -- and doesn't promise stoppers.

Win the A and play a club. I hope you didn't choose option 1 (for all you know spades are 3-3).
You have 7 top tricks.
Clubs is your best chance for more.

You want to preserve the Q as an entry to the clubs in your hand.

7.
Eventually, you will take a club finesse (on the next round, in fact).
If the K is onside, it will always be onside.

So, why the low club now?

If clubs are 3-3, you'll be okay no matter what (later, you can clear and set up the suit with the Q still as an entry).

But, if they are 4-2, and you win the Q (the finesse works), then play the A and another club, you will never have the entries to set up the suit.

If you don't see it yet, you'll see it soon (I hope).

K and finesse in clubs.

Continue with the plan. Save the Q as a hand entry.

Finesse (much better odds than playing for a doubleton king offside) the Q.

The full deal is below.  The finesse wins and you are now in hand to play the A and another club.

You set up the long club and still have the Q.

Try playing it out by starting clubs with low to the Q on the first round, and you will see that you will run out of entries.

Click here to play Practice Deal #4.