Leads Quiz 222 by David Bird

A: ♦A. Although partner had opened in hearts, John Hinto quite rightly started with a top diamond. The defense later went astray. This was the deal:

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

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

As you can see, North was too strong for a preempt and North-South had missed a huge game in hearts. South switched to a trump at trick two, won with the 8. Declarer drew trumps in three further rounds and then led the ♦Q to South's king. The ♥Q switch went to North's ace.

North needed to switch to clubs now, scoring two tricks for one down. No, despite knowing from the ♥Q switch that declarer held the ♥K, he returned another heart. Declarer ditched both his club losers on the diamonds and an overtrick was made. At the other table, 4♠ doubled went two down.

Your result so far:

A: ♦K. Reynolds led the ♦K, won in the dummy. This was the deal:

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

♠ 9 8 7 4 2__________________♠ J 6
♥ A 9 3________________________♥ K J 7 6 5
♦ A J___________________________♦ 5
♣ 9 7 2________________________♣ A K J 6 5

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

Michael Shuster, the declarer, finessed the ♥J to the queen and ruffed the diamond continuation. After drawing trumps with the king and ace, he finessed the ♣J successfully. A club and two spades had to be lost and he went one down. At the other table, South made life easy for declarer by leading a club to North's queen. Eleven tricks were made.

Your result so far:

A: ♦A. It was natural to lead the ace of the suit that had been bid and raised. This was the deal:

____________________♠ 10 8 7 5
____________________♥ J 10 8
____________________♦ 9 8 4 2
____________________♣ 10 9

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

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

The ♦A wins. What would you do next from the South cards? The apparent risk was that dummy's spade suit might provide a heart discard. Chen switched smartly to the ♥K and the game had to go one down. At the other table, 3NT was bid and made.

Your result so far:

A: ♥3. Sheng led a heart and this was the layout:

____________________♠ J 8 5 2
____________________♥ 10 9 8
____________________♦ 10 3 2
____________________♣ 9 3 2

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

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

Declarer won in the dummy, led a spade to the ace and a heart towards dummy. South rose with the ace and returned the ♥J. Declarer continued with the ♠K Q, leaving North with the ♠J. When the clubs failed to divide helpfully, the contract was one down.

At the other table, Rita Shugart led ace, king and another diamond. The contract was then made with an overtrick.

Your result so far:

A: ♦8. Ming Sheng declded to lead a diamond and this was the deal:

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

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

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

Tom Reynolds, the declarer, won with the ♦Q and cashed dummy's two top spades, finding the unwelcome break. His next move was unsuccessful. He led dummy's ♣Q, losing to South's bare king. The diamonds were cleared, declarer continuing with ace and another club. North won and returned a heart, South withholding the queen. The game was then one down.

Your result so far: