Leads Quiz 232 by David Bird

A: ♠K. Ji Chuancheng led the ♠A. (Many players prefer to lead the king from ace-king when they want a count signal, to see how many rounds will stand up.) This was the deal:

____________________♠ J 6 3 2
____________________♥ K 9 4 2
____________________♦ 6 3
____________________♣ K Q J

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

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

When dummy went down with a singleton spade, it was clear that a second spade winner would be ruffed. When a switch is imminent, North (the leader's partner) should give a suit preference signal. North duly followed with the ♠2. South switched to ace and another club, and the game was defeated.

Your result so far:

A: ♥A. This is what happened at the other table of the deal that we saw in problem 1. You will remember the layout:

____________________♠ J 6 3 2
____________________♥ K 9 4 2
____________________♦ 6 3
____________________♣ K Q J

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

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

Dong Shunhui (West here) realized that a diamond lead was very like to be ruffed, after partner's 5♦ bid. Very cleverly, he led the ♥A instead. A heart ruff followed and the slam was down.

Your result so far:

A: ♣K. Sally made the normal lead of the ♣K. East's opening bid of 1♠ had been psychic. This was the deal:

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

♠ A Q 3_________________________♠ 9 8 7 5 4 2
♥ 8 5_____________________________♥ Q J 10 3 2
♦ A 8 7 3 2_____________________♦ 4
♣ 9 7 5__________________________♣ 6

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

North overtook the ♣K with the ♣A to return a trump to the king and ace. Declarer played a heart to the queen and ace, Brock returning a second round of trumps. The doubled contract was then made! As you see, the defenders needed to play on hearts before all the trumps were drawn. This would have promoted a trump trick for them.

As Sally pointed out, she should not have doubled 4♠. A forcing pass, instead, would have invited her partner to bid on, rather than seek a penalty.

Your result so far:

A: ♥9. It is against the odds to lead from either minor suit here. Quite rightly, South led from his low doubleton (which is often a good lead). This was the layout:

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

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

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

Declarer played the ♥Q from dummy and all depended on North's reaction. If he covers with the King, declarer will be able to discard one of his diamond losers on dummy's hearts, making the game. North smartly played low, and it was no longer possible to make the contract.

Did you spot that declarer had misplayed? He should play low from dummy at trick one, win with the ace, draw trumps with the king and queen, and then clear the heart suit. The ♠A will then be an entry to take two diamond discards on the hearts.

Your result so far:

A: ♠4. To lead from either queen would be a gamble. The singleton spade was easily best. This was the deal:

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

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

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

Declarer won with the ♠A, led to the ♥A and ruffed a heart. Two rounds of trumps were followed by a second heart ruff, eliminating that suit. One possibility now was to play ace and another spade, hoping that South would win and have to play a club (or give a ruff-and-discard). This plan had to be dropped when South showed out on the second spade.

With North holding long spades, South was favorite to hold the ♣Q. Instead of finessing the ♣J, declarer therefore played ace, king and another club. South had to win, and his heart or club return would then concede a ruff-and-discard, allowing declarer to ditch his last spade.

Your result so far: