Leads Quiz 216 by David

A: ♥3. South decided to lead the ♠A to take a look at dummy. This was the deal:

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

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

                    ♠ A Q J 4
                    ♥ K J 7 3
                    ♦ J 5 3
                    ♣ K 7

North signaled discouragement with the ♠2, but South continued with the ♠Q. This unfortunate start to the defense was not immediately fatal. Brock won with the king, continuing with ace and another club.

On lead with the ♣K, South had one last chance - to switch to hearts. When he preferred to cash the ♠J, hoping that declarer had started with only three spades, declarer had her nine tricks.

Your result so far:

A: ♥7. Claire Robinson found the best lead of a heart, after which the contract might have gone two down. Sadly, the subsequent defense was not the best. This was the layout:

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

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

                    ♠ K 10 4
                    ♥ 7 5
                    ♦ K 10 8 7 4 3
                    ♣ 9 5

What should North do at trick one? Since East had not rebid in hearts, it was unlikely that she held four hearts and that the lead was a singleton. Best defense is to play low, after which the defense can score a heart ruff for two down. The lead of the 7 surely marked declarer with the ♥K Q.

North won with the ace and returned the ♥J, but the contract should still have gone one down. Declarer won with the ♥K and continued with ace and another trump. North overtook partner's ♠10 with the ♠Q and returned a heart. Very carelessly, it was the ♥10 rather than the ♥4. Declarer then had a second club discard on the established ♥9. Not the best of defenses!

Your result so far:

A: ♣7. The best lead is a club. This was the layout:

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

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

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

After two rounds of clubs and a club ruff, how should declarer play?

It's best to play two rounds of trumps. When the outstanding trumps break 2-2, you can discard two spades from dummy on the ♣10 9. You can then ruff two spades. If instead trumps break 3-1, you draw the last round and rely on the spade finesse.

Your result so far:

A: ♥2. Ollie Burgess's double was very light, particularly at Game All. I am not greatly enamored by Paula Leslie's 3♦ bid either. Her opponents were very likely to win the auction and she had no wish for a diamond lead. This was the deal:

                    ♠ J 10 7
                    ♥ K J 9
                    ♦ J 10 9 4 2
                    ♣ 6 4

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

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

South duly led the ♦A and this set up two discards for declarer's heart losers. The game was made.

At the other table, North-South saw no reason to enter the bidding. Espen Erichsen led a heart to North's king and a club switch sunk the contract.

Your result so far:

A: ♥K. At both tables, the ♥K was led, but the contract was made at only one table. This was the deal:

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

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

                    ♠ 2
                    ♥ K Q 8 7 6
                    ♦ Q 10 7
                    ♣ K J 9 7

The defenders took the king and ace of hearts, North switching to a club. Both declarer's rose with the ♣A and played a trump to the queen. At one table, North won with the king. The contract could not then be beaten. Declarer was able to ruff the diamonds good and draw trumps.

At the other table, Paul Fegarty held up the ♠K. Hoping that the ♠K was onside, declarer then played a diamond to the jack. The contract was then one down and in fact went two down.

Your result so far: