Leads Quiz 215 by David

A: ♥4. At this table, South had already shown the heart suit with a weak jump, and decided to lead the ♦9. It did not work well when this was the layout:

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

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

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

A possible clue that a diamond lead would not work well was East's exuberant action in the bidding after a first-round pass. This is sometimes an indicator of a strong holding in the opener's suit. North won the diamond lead and cleared the heart suit. Sadly, declarer then had eleven tricks to take.

At the other table, South did not venture any response and led a fourth-best heart. The game went two down.

Your result so far:

A: ♣Q. Ferguson led the ♣Q and this was the deal:

                    ♠ 8 7 2
                    ♥ K J 7 6 5 2
                    ♦ 7 5
                    ♣ 10 7

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

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

When the ♣Q won the first trick, Cathy Ferguson continued with the ♣J. Robert McKinnon, the declarer, decided to play low from dummy again. South then took four more club tricks to put 3NT two down.

At the other table, East chose to double the 2♦ opening. West became the declarer in 3NT and a heart was led. Eleven tricks ensued.

Your result so far:

A: ♣6. The Spanish South decided to lead the ♦A. Presumably he was hoping that the 1♦ opening was on a short suit. This was the deal:

                    ♠ K 10 7 5
                    ♥ K 7 5
                    ♦ 10 6
                    ♣ 10 9 5 3

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

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

After three rounds of diamonds, declarer led a heart from dummy and finessed the queen. He continued with a club to the jack and led another heart, repeating the finesse successfully. Declarer then had nine tricks.

At the other table, a heart was led, North playing the King. Declarer won and ran the ♦9, losing to the 10. The contract then had no chance and it was a game swing away.

Your result so far:

A: ♥J. Miguel Goncalves had bid his hearts and decided to lead another suit. the ♠9. This was an odd choice with the spades bid by declarer. The layout was:

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

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

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

Four spades, three clubs and two diamonds gave declarer his game.

At the other table, South did not bid hearts and saw no reason not to lead the ♥J. Declarer won with the queen and played the ♦A, South showing out. When he led a low club, North rose with the ♣K and fired back a heart to beat the contract.

Your result so far:

A: ♦A. Obviously, you lead one of your top diamonds, according to your leading methods. This was the deal:

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

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

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

Miguel Goncalves, the declarer, ruffed the second diamond and crossed to the ♠8. The ♣Q was run successfully. Declarer then played all his trumps. Benedicte Cronier (South) threw all her diamonds. On the last trump, Philippe Cronier had no good discard from: ♥A Q ♦6 ♣K 10. When he threw a diamond, declarer played ace and another club, forcing Cronier to win and lead from the ♥A Q to concede a tenth trick.

To beat the contract after declarer's chosen line of play, South had to keep the ♦10 9 and North had to keep a lower diamond. He could then exit in diamonds when thrown in with the bared ♥A.

Your result so far: