Leads Quiz 239 by David

A: ♥2. A heart lead is the only one to beat the game, as it happens. At the table, the ♠3 was led and this was the deal:

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

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

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

It may seem natural to put in the ♠Q or ♠J, but North will win with the king and switch to hearts to beat the contract. The winning line is to rise with the ♠A and play ace and another club. North plays low, the ♣Q wins and South discards a heart.

With clubs 1-4, and South having led a four-card suit, it is clear to play South for the diamond length now. You play the ♦A K, North showing out, and finesse dummy's ♦10. You have time to set up an extra trick from the spades and the hearts, bringing your total to nine.

Your result so far:

A: ♠5. Zia decided to lead the ♦2 and this was the deal:

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

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

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

Any lead but a diamond takes the contract two down. When a diamond was led, the declarer (Chris Jagger) called for dummy's ♦10, covered with the ace and ruffed.

Declarer played the ♣J and was soon able to draw trumps and discard a heart and a spade on the ♦K Q, then lead up to the ♠K. That was 11 tricks and plus 750. At the other table, a spade lead took 4♣ one off.

Your result so far:

A: ♣8. Even though it did not turn out well at the table, the singleton club is easily the best choice on what you have seen so far. This was the deal:

____________________♠ K 6 4
____________________♥ A J 10 7
____________________♦ J 9
____________________♣ J 10 6 4

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

____________________♠ 9 8
____________________♥ Q 9 6 5 3
____________________♦ Q 10 7 5 2
____________________♣ 8


Take the East cards now and see if you can make the contract. What is your plan?

The key move is to cover the opening ♣8 lead with dummy's 9. North has to play one of his top cards, let's say the 10. You win with the ace, cross to the ♦A and finesse the ♠Q. The finesse wins, but when you play the ♠A, the king does not fall. What now?

You cross to the ♣K, South showing out. You then finesse the ♣7 and play the ♣Q, discarding a diamond loser from dummy. When you play king and another diamond, ruffing in the dummy, North can take his ♠K when he wishes. The slam is yours!

Your result so far:

A: ♣K. It is obvious to lead the ♣K. This was the layout:

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

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

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

Declarer wins the second round of clubs and plays the ♠K. How will you defend?

If you win with the ace and play another club, declarer will discard a heart from his hand. He can then ruff the next club in the dummy, draw trumps and claim the contract.

Instead, you should hold up your precious ace of trumps on both the first and second round. Declarer is then doomed. If he plays a third trump, you will win and force his last trump with yet another club, for three down. If he plays red-suit winners, your ♠6 will then be the setting trick.

Your result so far:

A: ♦J. It seems obvious to lead a diamond and indeed that is sensible. This was the deal:

____________________♠ 9 7 3
____________________♥ 5
____________________♦ A Q 8 6 3
____________________♣ Q J 6 2

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

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

Take the East cards now and see if you can make the contract. The defenders play two rounds of diamonds and you ruff the second round. After drawing trumps, you need to avoid a club loser.

You should finesse the ♠10, hoping that South holds the ♠J. If this finesse wins, you can discard two of dummy's clubs on your spade suit and make the slam.

Your result so far: