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 Leads at Matchpoints (2) by Matthias Huberschwiller

Today you play in a pairs tournament and the result is counted in Matchpoints.

The goal at Matchpoints is not necessarily to beat the contract, but to do better than the others.

If your opponent makes an overtrick at 3NT when everybody else makes two overtricks, you’ll get a top.

It is your lead!

Question 1

  Your Hand
 Q 6 5 2
 10 9 8
 7 6 2
 A 6 2
 
Q: 1 - What do you lead as West?
SouthWestNorthEast
1Pass2Pass
2Pass3Pass
4 *Pass4Pass
PassPass


4 = Cue bid

 Your choice:
A: A – Your opponents have made a slam try and stopped in Four Hearts. They don’t seem to have a club stopper.

Given the diamond length announced by North, you need to lead the ace of clubs, to make sure that declarer cannot discard his club losers on the diamonds.


Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 2

  Your Hand
 7 6 2
 J 7 2
 A J 4
 Q 7 6 2
 
Q: 2 - What do you lead as West?
SouthWestNorthEast
1Pass2Pass
2Pass3Pass
4 NT *Pass5 **Pass
6PassPassPass


4 NT = Roman Key Card Blackwood.
5 = Two keycards (out of four aces and the trump king) without the trump queen.

 Your choice:
A: A – With the club length announced in dummy, there is a risk of discards.

It is true that leading the diamond ace could give away the slam from time to time. But in matchpoints, this lead makes sure that your opponents won’t get an overtrick, which can be crucial.


Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 3

  Your Hand
 J 7 2
 J 10 9 8 2
 7 6 2
 A 2
 
Q: 3 - What do you lead as West?
SouthWestNorthEast
1Pass2Pass
2Pass3Pass
4 NT *Pass5 **Pass
6PassPassPass


4 NT = RKCB
5 = 4 or 1 keycards

 Your choice:
A: J – Here, your ace is in dummy’s long suit, so it is out of question to lead it as it can only help declarer. After all, he will not win his grand slam without using dummy’s length!

Imagine the look of horror on your partner’s face if you lead the club ace, dummy has KQJxxx and declarer ruffs.


Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 4

  Your Hand
 7 6 5
 K 6 5 3 2
 J 7
 Q 10 6
 
Q: 4 - What do you lead as West?
SouthWestNorthEast
-Pass1Pass
1Pass2Pass
4PassPassPass


 Your choice:
A: 6 – Leading any of the other three suits is dangerous and bears the risk of giving away a trick.

The safest lead, especially in matchpoints, is a trump as there is only a very small risk of giving a trick to declarer. (If you partner has an honour, it could be finessed anyway.)


Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 5

  Your Hand
 Q 10 9 7
 K 10 9 8 7
 7 3 2
 6
 
Q: 5 - What do you lead as West?
SouthWestNorthEast
--1Pass
1Pass3Pass
4PassPassPass



 Your choice:
A: 10 – With a good long trump suit, there is no reason to lead your singleton as you would ruff with your money.

When you have length in trumps, it is often best to lead the suit where you have something in order to establish tricks there and to try forcing declarer to ruff, therefore ending up with more trumps than him.


Your result so far:
Open Question

Overall Results

Your results:   out of    Average: 

What next? You may enjoy playing our prepared hands series.
More informations on our website: www.VuBridge.com

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