Lead Quiz 225 by David Bird

A: ♥J. The choice is between the unbid suits, hearts and clubs. Easily better is a heart lead. This was the deal:

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

♠ A K 6 5 4_____________________♠ 7 3
♥ 6________________________________♥ A K 5
♦ K 10 8 6 4 2__________________♦ A 3
♣ 5________________________________♣ K J 8 6 4 2

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

Declarer won the heart lead with the ace and continued with ace, king and another diamond. How should North continue the defense?

North can count declarer for two spade tricks, five diamond tricks and the ♥A. He is very likely to hold the ♥K as well, since he might otherwise have held up the heart ace. In that case, he will have the nine tricks he needs if a heart is returned.

North switched cleverly to the ♣9, South winning the jack with the queen and switching to spades. Declarer could not reach his second heart trick and went one down.

To make the contract, declarer should play a low diamond from both hands at trick 2, preserving the diamond entry to his hand.

Your result so far:

A: ♣9. It's natural to lead the suit that partner has opened. This was the deal:

____________________♠ 6 3 2
____________________♥ J 5 3
____________________♦ K Q 6
____________________♣ A K J 7

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

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

North scored two top clubs and delivered a ruff on the third round, declarer playing the ♣10. How would you have played the remainder of the hand, as declarer, when South switched to a low diamond?

Declarer won and drew a round of trumps, all following. He then tried his luck with the ♣Q (an extra chance play). South was out of clubs, of course, but he did not hold the last trump! Away went one of dummy's hearts. Declarer then cashed the ♥A and ruffed two hearts in the dummy.The game was made.

Your result so far:

A: ♥A. At seven tables, 4♠ doubled was allowed to make. This was the deal:

____________________♠ 8 6
____________________♥ 9 4 2
____________________♦ 9 8 6 4
____________________♣ 10 7 6 3

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

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

At the tables where South started with the ace and king of hearts, declarer ruffed the second round and led a club. South won and it was then abundantly clear to switch to a top diamond, setting up a trick in the suit before a discard was established on the clubs.

At another table, the ♥A was followed by the ♣A. It was then fatal to continue with the ♥K. Declarer could ruff, draw trumps and set up a diamond discard on the clubs. The North-South pairs from England, Israel, Latvia, Portugal, Romania, Russia and Sweden allowed the game to make.

Your result so far:

A: ♥9. It is unattractive to lead from king-fourth into a 2NT opening. Nor is there much prospect of setting up and enjoying the club suit. This was the layout:

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

♠ J 10 9 7______________________♠ A Q 3
♥ Q 7 3_________________________♥ J 8 2
♦ A J 10 8 7 3_______________♦ K 5
♣ __________________________________♣ A K Q J 8

____________________♠ K 8 6 5
____________________♥ 9 4
____________________♦ 2
____________________♣ 10 9 6 5 4 2

Leading the ♥9 gives the defense a chance. North must cooperate by holding off his ♥A K, allowing declarer to win the first trick. After this start, declarer has only 8 tricks. When he sets up a ninth, the defenders will be able to add four heart tricks to their pile, putting the game one down.

Your result so far:

A: ♠Q. Kyle Rockoff made the sensible lead of the spade queen, hoping to score four spades and the outside ace. It should have beaten the contract. This was the deal:

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

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

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

Which card should Daniel Weiss play from the North hand? He mistakenly overtook with the ♠K and declarer's spade holding was promoted into a stopper. The game was made.

Do you see why the overtake was unwise? South had opened 1NT and could hardly hold a six-card spade suit. This meant that declarer held at least four spades. North should have signaled encouragement, won the next spade with the king and returned the suit. The defenders would then have taken the first six tricks.

At the other table, West played in 3NT on a heart lead. South won with the ♥A and, seeing the four spades in the dummy, returned the ♠7. The contract was two down.

Your result so far: