Leads Quiz 241 by David Bird

A: ♣2. Donati made an attacking lead in clubs and this was the deal:

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

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

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

The club lead forced declarer (Volcker) to make an early decision whether to finesse. He opted to rise with the ace, and then went one down when the bad diamond break was encountered. On any other lead, he could have fallen back onto the club finesse.

Your result so far:

A: ♠9. Partner's double of the artificial spade bid asks for a spade lead. This was the deal:
____________________♠ K Q J 10 5
____________________♥ Q 10 3
____________________♦ Q 8 6 5 3
____________________♣

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

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

Take declarer's East cards now. How will you play 6♣ after winning the spade lead?

There is no need to guess who holds the ♦Q for a finesse. After drawing trumps, play the king and ace of diamonds. You then play the ♦10, ditching the spade loser. The ♦9 becomes good for a heart discard.

Your result so far:

A: ♠K. A spade was the best lead, found at the table. This was the deal:

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

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

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

Luks won with the ace and played two top trumps, discovering the 4-1 break. He continued with a club to the king and the diamond queen. South won with the ace, cashed the ♠Q, and played a third spade. Declarer threw a diamond from dummy and ruffed with the 9.

His only winning play now was a low club to North's bare ace. Difficult to find. Instead, he crossed to the ♦K and ruffed a diamond in his hand. The ♣Q went to the ace and a further spade removed one of dummy's ♥A K. Declarer was one down.

Your result so far:

A: ♠A. You lead a top spade and this is the deal:

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

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

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

What will you play at trick two, from Saada's hand? It is essential to switch to trumps, to prevent declarer from ruffing his ♠J. South found this defense and the game was one down.

At the other table, East-West bid and made 5♣.

Your result so far:

A: ♣6. It is essential to make a safe lead against 6NT. A spade lead would be suicidal. Klukowski duly led a safe club. This was less likely to assist declarer than a red suit.

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

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

Now take the East cards. How will you play 6NT?

You have 10 top tricks and will need two more from one of the majors. Will you play on hearts or spades? Dias played on hearts and went down.

A spade to the 9 is a much better chance. You succeed against North's ♠K Q x, ♠K x or ♠Q x. You also have a fair chance against ♠K Q x x with North. If he splits his honors, he gives it to you. If he plays low, your ♠9 wins and you cash the ♠A. When this fails to draw an honor, you have the extra chance of leading towards the ♥Q.

Your result so far: