Winter Break by Ben Norton

A: ♥3. You’d normally lead passively against No-trump slams on the basis that you’re most unlikely to be able to take two tricks on power, so leaving declarer to go about his own business and take losing finesses is best practice.

However, you know dummy has a long Diamond suit here. Declarer is likely to make the hand if left to his own devices, especially as there don’t appear to be any nasty distributional surprises in store. Go active with a Heart, attempting to set up a trick for partner to cash when he gains the lead.

A Heart was the winner, establishing a trick before partner’s ♦K was knocked out.

Your result so far:

A: ♦7. It pays to go on the offensive when declarer has pre-empted, but a Heart is unlikely to do much damage as you have five cards in the suit; your slow winners wouldn’t stand up.

The most promising attack is a Diamond, angling for a third-round ruff. This is all the more attractive when you have a control card in trumps and low cards to ruff with.

A Diamond was the only lead to set the hand, paving the way for a ruff together with tricks for the ♦K, ♠K and ♣A.

Your result so far:

A: ♦3. Ace-fourth doesn’t often make for an appealing lead against No-trump. However, declarer is now known to hold at least six Clubs, and your Heart holding beneath dummy’s length doesn’t bode well.

You should go on the attack, but a Spade lead would need too much from partner to be successful. Try a Diamond, requiring less from across the way to set the suit up.

A Diamond found partner with the ♦Q J, establishing two extra tricks in the suit by knocking out dummy’s ♦K, to go with the ♣Q and ♥A K for two down. Declarer had seven Clubs and the combined Spade holding was solid, so a Spade lead would let the contract make, conceding a vital tempo.

Your result so far:

A: ♥3. A Diamond attack could be necessary, but nothing about the auction suggests that declarer will have extra values at his disposal, and a Diamond could easily give away a trick. When in doubt, put the ball in play with a safe lead, and since dummy has shown Clubs, a Heart is your best bet.

A Diamond lead would resolve a King-Jack guess for declarer, whereas passive defense would see him have to make the decision by himself. Some chance is better than none.

Your result so far:

A: ♠4. Your side has the weight of high cards and strength in every suit, if partner’s opening bid is to be believed. In that case, you should look to cut down on declarer’s ruffs by leading a trump. He could easily have short Hearts on the auction, and you’d like to protect your slow winners in that suit.

A trump lead held declarer to only one ruff in hand, necessary to set the contract a trick.

Your result so far: