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Daily Bridge in New Zealand

A Valid Reason.

Deciding what to lead at trick 1 can be a nightmare. Even when you have such an obvious lead, you can see immediately dummy appears that you have done wrong. In recent memory (only yesterday!), after a 1NT-3NT short and sharp sequence, I selected Heart-smallQ from QJ95 and had it on the table virtually before the bidding was over. (you know..good suit…dummy having no interest in a major contract…obvious, really). Dummy, of course (why not partner!) went down with K104 and declarer (why not partner!) produced the ace.

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Another failure though it was the most obvious lead from my hand and backfired, totally.

So, if you lead what you think is right, and have a valid reason for doing so, then, one hopes, the words “bad luck” can come from your partner’s lips. There was a very valid reason to lead the Club-smallK, the unbid suit, from KQ864 against the following 4Spade-small contract, with the problem we gave you yesterday. The lead did not exactly backfire (no Jxx in dummy and Ax in declarer’s hand...actually, there was!) but just maybe, you could have done better:

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South Deals
None Vul
   
5 3
K 8 4 3
Q 9
K Q 8 6 4
 
N
W   E
S
   
West North East South
      1 
Pass 2  Pass 2 
Pass 2  Pass 4 
All pass      

 

Your opponents are playing Acol, meaning 2Spade-small was not forcing. Yet, something persuaded South to go directly to game. Your lead?

It may have been that they had extra shape, though if they were 5-5 in the majors, they should have bid 3Heart-small as North might have 3 hearts and only 2 spades. However, it is very dangerous telling the opponents what they should have bid when you are sitting in the difficult opening leader’s seat.

It could be that South was maximum for their 2Heart-small bid, around a 15 count which together with their partner’s known 10+ hcp (or, since they were playing Acol, close to 10hcp) meant they should be playing game.

Did you notice the other significant feature in your hand, your heart holding? You know declarer will need to do something with potential or real losers in that suit…and it could just be that declarer might need to use dummy’s trumps. If dummy has two hearts and three spades, a possibility, they will have to lose the lead to you. So, you have a valid reason to lead a trump and when in with the Heart-smallK, lead another one.

You have a valid reason, and although the play did not go quite as you anticipated, it did not backfire, either.

South Deals
None Vul
A 6 4
9
K 10 6 5 4 2
J 7 5
5 3
K 8 4 3
Q 9
K Q 8 6 4
 
N
W   E
S
 
K 10 7
Q 10 6
J 8 7 3
9 3 2
 
Q J 9 8 2
A J 7 5 2
A
A 10
West North East South
      1 
Pass 2  Pass 2 
Pass 2  Pass 4 
All pass      

 

Playing Acol, I too would have upgraded my 8 count to a 2Diamond-small response, so much potential in spades. Had South bid 3Heart-small over 2Spade-small, then North should go all the way to the spade game..and then, perhaps, the successful lead would have been even more obvious.

Club-smallJ75 opposite Club-small AT in dummy and declarer’s hands. Does that sound familiar? “Yes” but not in the same way as normal. You never had and never would make a club trick. On the lead of the Club-smallK, declarer can win, cash Diamond-smallA, play Heart-smallA and ruff a heart to be followed by Diamond-smallK discarding Club-small10 from hand.

Now a club ruff and a second heart ruff and a second club ruff..and a third heart ruff (with Spade-smallA). Now back to hand with a diamond ruff and you still have Spade-smallQJ and Heart-smallJ. You already have 10 tricks and are certain to make an overtrick.

Not so on a trump lead. Declarer follows the same route with the minor cards and ruffs two hearts in dummy, crossing back to hand with first Club-smallA and then a club ruff. Declarer has 8 tricks and these 5 cards left in their hand:

Spade-small QJ9

Heart-smallJ7

However, they still have to lose both to the Spade-smallK and Heart-smallK and cannot draw the outstanding trump and enjoy the heart winner. Contract made, but no overtrick, very significant at Pairs. So, that trump lead was a winner….and some!

What actually happened

Let’s go back to trick 1. We are assuming that declarer did the right thing and rose with the Spade-smallA. They did not, hoping the lead was away from the king. East’s king won with trumps continued. With only one entry to dummy, declarer could not use the diamond suit, the contract failing by one trick.

When you have a valid reason to make a good lead, and it works, you have a very good feeling. Remember, though, a reason for leading a trump being that “I did not know what to lead” is never a valid reason…even if it turns out to be a brilliancy!

and if it turned out that you had two quick club tricks to take, while dummy had Diamond-smallAKJxx opposite declarer's singleton, partner will, of course reflect on your bad luck, won't they!  wink

You are not on lead now (well, you were at trick 1!) but defending…and it is not some routine part-score or game. The opponents have gone the whole way! 7NT!

North Deals
None Vul
A K
K J 8 5 2
A K Q 3
A 9
J 8 5
Q 10 9 7
6 5 2
10 7 5
 
N
W   E
S
   
West North East South
You Dummy    
  2  Pass 2 
Pass 2  Pass 2 
Pass 3  Pass 3 NT
Pass 4  Pass 4 
Pass 5  Pass 5 
Pass 7 NT All pass  

 

After a negative or waiting 2Diamond-small bid, South shows a little bit of life with their 2Spade-small call but no interest in their partner’s red suits. Nevertheless, out comes Gerber with South having the only ace and king you cannot see in dummy.

That’s enough for North who puts his partner to grand. You lead the Diamond-small6 (good choice) with everyone following to three top diamonds. On the fourth round, your partner discards the Spade-small3 (low encourage) and declarer the Spade-small2. Which card do you discard?

See you tomorrow.

Richard Solomon

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