Leads Quiz 62 by David Bird

A: ♠6. Ornstein, for the USA, chose to lead the ♦2. A diamond lead was the only one to allow the contract to make. It doesn't seem to me that a diamond lead into East's bid suit was a good idea. 'It might have been a short suit.' Yes, but this doesn't mean that it was a short suit. This was the full deal:

                    ♠ J 10 4
                    ♥ K J 5
                    ♦ 9
                    ♣ Q 10 9 8 7 4

♠ A Q 8 5                         ♠ K 9 7
♥ A 9 6 2                         ♥ Q 10 7
♦ K 10 8                         ♦ Q 6 5 4 3
♣ 5 3                             ♣ A 2

                    ♠ 6 3 2
                    ♥ 8 4 3
                    ♦ A J 7 2
                    ♣ K J 6

Nikolova won with the ♦Q, crossed to the ♠Q and led a heart. North rose with the ♥K and switched to a club but it was too late. Declarer had four spades, three hearts and a trick in each minor suit.

Your result so far:

A: ♣A. At both tables, after similar bidding, South chose to lead the ♣A, so we can conclude that this was the most sensible lead. (It was almost certain that a diamond lead would be ruffed by the other side.) This was the deal:

                    ♠ Q 7
                    ♥ 2
                    ♦ A J 10 8 3
                    ♣ 9 8 6 4 3

♠ K 9 6                         ♠ J 10 5 3 2
♥ A K Q                         ♥ J 10 9 8 5 4
♦ 5 2                                ♦
♣ Q 10 7 5 2                       ♣ K J

                    ♠ A 8 4
                    ♥ 7 6 3
                    ♦ K Q 9 7 6 4
                    ♣ A

Chii Lin switched to the ♦K at trick 2 and Hansen ruffed. After three rounds of trumps and a club to the king, he advanced the ♠J. South played low and North won with the ♠Q. That was one down.

At the other table Shih, the declarer, unblocked the ♣K at trick 1. After drawing trumps, he played the ♣Q from dummy. When South showed out, he ruffed a club and led the ♠2. All would have been well for the defense if South had played low, because declarer would still have had two spade losers. No, she rose with the ♠A, returning the ♠4, and Shih called for dummy's ♠K. The ♠Q fell and the game was made for a swing of 13 IMPs.

Your result so far:

A: ♦J. At both tables the singleton ♦J was led. Not surprising because singletons make excellent opening leads - almost as good as leading from an AK combination. This was the deal:

                    ♠ 10 6
                    ♥ K 8
                    ♦ A 10 8 5 3
                    ♣ J 9 3 2

♠ 8 7 3 2                       ♠ K
♥ A Q 6 3                       ♥ J 10 7 5 2
♦ K 6                              ♦ Q 9 7 4 2
♣ K Q 10                         ♣ A 4

                    ♠ A Q J 9 5 4
                    ♥ 9 4
                    ♦ J
                    ♣ 8 7 6 5

With Denmark North-South, North won the diamond lead with the Ace and returned the ♦5. What should South do after ruffing this? Dorthe Schaltz returned a club. Zia (the declarer) won with the Ace and played a trump to the Ace. He then played two more top clubs, disposing of his spade loser. Game made!

At the other table, Milner (South) played the ♠A after taking his ruff and that was one down. He reasoned that if declarer held ♠K-x and cashing the Ace set up the King, North would be able to ruff the second round of spades.

Your result so far:

A: ♦6. Lynn Deas led a diamond. This would have been the best choice even without partner's lead-directing double. This was the full deal:

                    ♠ J 9 6
                    ♥ 8 6
                    ♦ Q 10 8 4 3
                    ♣ 9 7 4

♠                               ♠ K Q 8 5 4 2
♥ A K 9 7                      ♥ J 5 3 2
♦ A K 5 2                      ♦
♣ Q 10 8 6 2                 ♣ A J 5

                    ♠ A 10 7 3
                    ♥ Q 10 4
                    ♦ J 9 7 6
                    ♣ K 3

Cronier, declarer for France, won the diamond lead with the ace and finessed the ♣J, losing to the king. She later played the ♥A-K and lost a trump trick for one down.

At the other table Beth Palmer also had a diamond lead against 6♥ and took an early losing club finesse. Can you believe that she then picked up the trumps?! She led the ♥J, covered and won, ruffed two diamonds in her hand and finessed the ♥9 to pick up the trump suit. Why did she play it this way? The France South had made a (I must restrain my language here) er... somewhat unwise double of 6♥. Declarer deduced that she must think that she held a trump trick. Amazing to hear of such a double at world championship level.

Your result so far:

A: ♦5. Haughie found the diamond lead, the only one to beat the game. This was the full deal:

                    ♠ Q 7 6 3
                    ♥ A 9 3 2
                    ♦ K 9
                    ♣ 10 6 5

♠ K 10 4                        ♠ J
♥ K 10                            ♥ Q J 8 7 5 4
♦ A J 4                         ♦ 10 8 3
♣ K Q 9 7 3                   ♣ A 4 2

                    ♠ A 9 8 5 2
                    ♥ 6
                    ♦ Q 7 6 5 2
                    ♣ J 8

Ron Klinger won the first trick with the ♦K and returned the ♦9, covered by the 10, queen and ace. When the ♥K was led, he won with the ace and crossed to the ♠A for a diamond ruff.

At the other table the opening bid was a multi 2♦ and West played the final contract of 4♥. The only winning lead now was the ♦K. Not surprisingly, Jeff Meckstroth could not find it, preferring a low spade.

Your result so far: