Leads Quiz 237 by David Bird

A: ♠K. Hampson led the ♠K and this was the deal:

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

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

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

Greco overtook with the ♠A and switched to the ♣8. Declarer won in the dummy and led the ♠10 to North's jack. Back came another trump and the contract had to go down.

At the other table, 4♣ undoubled was made with an overtrick.

Your result so far:

A: ♦J. It was normal to lead a diamond. Rubins, who was hoping that partner could win and give a heart ruff, chose to lead the ♦9. This was the deal:

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

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

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

Alfejeva won with the ♦K and then needed to switch to a heart to beat the contract. Her partner was likely to be short in hearts after the 2NT overcall. Also, a heart switch could not give away a trick in that suit, however the missing three hearts were distributed.

Sadly for her side, and perhaps misled by the ♦9 lead, North tried to cash another diamond and the contract made. At the other table, 6♦ doubled was made on the North-South cards! It was a swing of 17 IMPs.

Your result so far:

A: ♣Q. Ginossar (for the USA) led the ♣Q. This was the deal:

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

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

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

North won with the ace. What would you have returned?

Only one return is good enough, and Zur-Campanile found it - a diamond. 5♠ went one down, and 4♠ was made at the other table.

Your result so far:

A: ♥7. Ionita, for Romania, led the ♠7. This was the layout:

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

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

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

Declarer won with dummy's ♠Q and cleared the clubs, for nine tricks and the contract. The lead of any other suit, in particular a heart, would have beaten the game.

It is generally recognised that leading from a six-card suit against 3NT can be unproductive. Partner is very likely to be short in the suit. Here, also, South had no side entry, even if it was possible to set up the spades.

Your result so far:

A: ♥A. It is normal to lead a top heart, but South went astray later in the defense.

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

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

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

Ionita (South) continued with the ♥J, ruffed by declarer (Schmidt). After a diamond the Jack, Queen and Ace, declarer ruffed the third heart and led the ♠6 towards dummy. How should South defend?

Ionita rose, expensively, with the ♠K. Declarer then had only one trump loser and made the contract.

At the other table, Reess (South) switched to a club at trick 2. Declarer won and played ace and another trump. Reese won with the ♠K, crashing partner's ♠Q, and played the ♦J. This was covered by the King and Ace, a club ruff then beating the game.

Your result so far: