Leads Quiz by David

A: ♥A. South led the ♥A and this was the deal:

____________________♠ 7 4
____________________♥ K Q 4
____________________♦ J 10 9 4 3
____________________♣ A 10 9

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

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

Two top hearts, followed by the ace of clubs, took the contract one down. At the other table, East's 4♠ was passed out. South led the ♣2 to the ace and a club return allowed declarer to make two overtricks.

Your result so far:

A: ♥K. West had not cue-bid in hearts, in response to his partner's 4♣ cue-bid. Gold therefore reckoned that the ♥K lead would be a good bet. This was the deal:

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

♠ K 9 7 5 3________________________♠ x x x
♥ Q J 9 7_________________________♥ x x x
♦ 3______________________________♦ x x x x
♣ A K 9_______________________♣ x x x

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

Two top hearts and a heart ruff were followed by the ♦A for one down. At the other table Yang led his singleton trump. Declarer was then able to draw trumps and make the contract easily.

Your result so far:

A: ♦3. Multon in fact led an eccentric ♦K, just in case one or other opponent had a singleton ♦Q. This was the layout:

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

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

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

'Well, I don't think much of the diamond lead,' you may be thinking. You are right that, on the actual lay-out, no lead can beat the slam. Multon is a world-class player, though. Why did he lead a diamond?

He expected declarer to be able to take some discards on dummy's heart suit, once the ♥A was knocked out. The main chance of beating the slam was that North held the ♦Q and a diamond trick could be set up before declarer had any discards available. On this deal, declarer could merely win the first round of diamonds with the queen. He could also discard a diamond on the ♣AKQ. That doesn't make any difference to the quality of the opening lead, though!

Your result so far:

A: ♠6. As the cards lie, no lead will beat the contract. This was the lay-out:

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

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

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

I rate the ♠6 lead better than the ♠K. Suppose, for example, that North had held the ♠10. Declarer might then have played the ♠9 from dummy and gone down.

There is an instructive point in the bidding. You see that West correctly did not bid Stayman because his shape was 4-3-3-3. As a result 3NT was made. At the other table, Lorenzini did bid Stayman. His partner subsequently went one down in 3♠!

Your result so far:

A: ♣5. As it happens, a club is the only lead to beat the slam. This was the layout:

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

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

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

At the other table West was declarer in 6NT and North did find a club lead to beat 6NT.

Your result so far: