Raucous Regionals by Ben Norton

A: ♥9. Even one round of Diamonds might not stand up on this auction. Besides, your tricks are hardly going anywhere. Best try something else, using your time on lead to good effect, perhaps by leading through one of dummy’s tenaces.

A Heart lead has the biggest upside. Perhaps partner has the ♥A K or ♥A Q over dummy’s King and will be able to give you a ruff. If partner wanted a Club lead, he could have bid 5♣ over 4♠ on the way to 5♦ (you’d never Pass 5♣, holding solid Diamonds).

Your result so far:

A: ♥Q. It might appeal to lead the unbid suit, but declarer surely has Diamonds under control to justify his slam bid. East is probably 6/6 in the blacks and your best chance is to find partner with a red-suit Ace.

If partner has the ♦A, you can see only one defensive trick. If he has the ♥A, though, you can see two. Partner will return a Heart, promoting a trump trick for your ♠J. Thus, a Heart lead is best. Always construct a plan before leading to a slam.

Your result so far:

A: ♦A. You should attack in your long suit, for partner can’t be counted on to have much. The issue is whether to lead a low Diamond or a top one. It’s not a matter of preventing declarer from taking a Diamond trick, since he’s going to take one anyway.

A small Diamond lead could keep the link open with partner, but he’s unlikely to gain the lead anyway. In fact, a small Diamond could be damaging, for declarer might be able to squeeze you down to ♠K x and four Diamond winners before throwing you on lead with a Diamond to give him an extra Spade trick.

To avoid this grim fate, you should lay down the ♦A. Unless you have reason to believe that declarer has two Diamond stoppers, you’ll continue with the ♦K and another Diamond, leaving declarer with no way to endplay you. You can then hope to get in with the ♠K. The strong hand is on your right, after all.

Your result so far:

A: ♣K. Declarer almost certainly has the ♥A Q for his jump to game in the face of your side’s bidding. Therefore, a Heart lead rates to give declarer a cheap trick, perhaps his ninth. Try your side-suit instead, specifically the ♣K in order to cater for declarer having the Ace and Jack.

The sneak attack of a Club is not only safer, but it could well establish tricks for the defense.

Your result so far:

A: ♥9. The normal worry about leading from J x x x doesn’t apply here. West has shown length in the black suits and therefore rates to have one or two Hearts, while the ♥9 8 bolster your holding.

A Club lead through dummy’s length is unlikely to do much good, nor is a Spade. Partner didn’t take the opportunity to overcall in Diamonds, so leading from your doubleton won’t strike oil. Kick off with a Heart, specifically the ♥9 in order to catch dummy’s Ten or perhaps unblock the suit.

Your result so far: