Leads Quiz 219 by David

A: ♦6. There is no reason to lead either of the suits bid by East-West. A diamond is the killing lead, and you might choose this, rather than a heart, on the basis that your hand is weak and you should therefore look for partner's good suit. This was the deal:

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

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

____________________♠ Q 9 7
____________________♥ 9 7 6 5
____________________♦ 6 4
____________________♣ J 9 8 2

On a diamond lead to the queen and North's king, followed by any switch (perhaps a club), the contract cannot be made.

The play is interesting if South leads a heart. Declarer should then play the jack from dummy. When this is covered by the queen and king, the ♥10 will act as an entry after the club suit is established.

Your result so far:

A: ♠A. Sally Brock led the ♠A and this was the deal:

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

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

____________________♠ A 10 9 6 5
____________________♥ 5 3
____________________♦ 10 7 4
____________________♣ K 7 6

On the first trick, North (Fiona Brown) followed with the ♠2. There was no point in an attitude or count signal, so this card should be interpreted as suit preference. Since North had plenty of spades to choose from, it was entirely possible that the ♠2 was asking for a club switch.

A club switch would have beaten 5♥, but Brock played another spade. She no doubt thought that declarer was a big favorite to hold the ♣A. One of dummy's club losers was eventually thrown on the fourth round of diamonds and 5♥ was made.

Your result so far:

A: ♥A. Rombaut led the ♦K, which was not a success when this proved to be the layout:

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

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

Michael Byrne, the declarer, won with dummy's ♦A and ditched the ♥K. He had to lose three trump tricks, but the game was made.

At the other table, Volcker (East) played in 3♠, again making 10 tricks on the ♦K lead.

Your result so far:

A: ♦J. Fawcett led the ♦J, a sensible choice. The cards lay very favorably, and declarer could have made all 13 tricks. She actually went down. This was the layout:

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

♠ A Q 9 7_______________________♠ 10 8
♥ J 8 7 4________________________♥ A Q 9 5
♦ A 8 6 5 4____________________♦ K 7
♣ ________________________________♣ A K Q 10 4

____________________♠ K 6 3 2
____________________♥ 10 6 3 2
____________________♦ J 10
____________________♣ 9 6 2

The Danish declarer won with dummy's ♦A and led a trump, the ♥K appearing from North. As you can see, the ♠K is onside, but declarer decided to play the ♣A K Q, throwing three spades from the dummy.

Declarer can still make 12 tricks by cross-ruffing. However, at Trick 6, it was essential to cash the bare ♦K. When she failed to do this, the slam had to go one down. England stopped in game at the other table, so going down cost some 26 IMPs.

Your result so far:

A: ♥K, The choice is between the red suits and hearts is the better prospect, with two touching honors. Gerstel duly led the ♥K and this was the layout:

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

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

____________________♠ 9 8 7 5 3
____________________♥ K Q 5
____________________♦ K 10 9
____________________♣ K J

Sally Brock, the declarer, won the first heart, hoping that the defenders' hearts would then be blocked. When she played ace and another club, the defenders scored four heart tricks to put the game one down.

At the other table, the bidding was 1♣-1♦-2♣-3NT. South led a spade and Switzerland gained 11 IMPs.

Your result so far: