Leads Quiz 242 by David Bird

A: ♦9. It is not attractive to lead from a queen or a jack. A trump would be OK, but a diamond was the only lead to beat the slam.

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

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

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

After a trump lead, declarer will draw trumps, eliminate the heart suit with a ruff and play three rounds of clubs, ending in the dummy. A low diamond will then endplay North to win with one top honor and then lead away from the other.

A diamond lead to North's queen, followed by a safe exit, will beat the slam.

Your result so far:

A: ♠A. The ♠A was led at almost all the tables in the European Championships. This was the deal:

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

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

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

When the ♠A wins, it is essential to switch to a diamond. This sets up a diamond before declarer can unblock the hearts to get a discard.

Your result so far:

A: ♠5. England faces Poland. Ben Handley-Pritchard led the ♠5, hoping to gain if partner held A x, K x or J x. This was the deal:

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

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

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

Jagniewski won with dummy's ♠K and finessed the ♦9, South throwing the ♥8. Declarer next led a low club and... finessed the 9!

Townsend won with the 10, returning the ♠J to the ace. Declarer could score a total of three club tricks, plus the ♦A. When he played the ♦Q. North won and switched to the ♥J, beating the game.

At the other table, South led the ace and queen of hearts. Four clubs, two diamonds, two spades and a heart gave declarer his nine tricks.

Your result so far:

A: ♣6. The only winning lead is a trump. This was the deal:

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

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

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

Declarer wins with the ♣J and leads a diamond. Your partner must now split his honors, to prevent declarer from ducking the trick to your hand. (You would not then be able to play a second trump.)

Declarer wins with the ace and plays a second diamond. Partner takes the trick and plays another trump. That leaves only one trump in the dummy. Declarer will not be able to ruff both his remaining diamond losers.

Your result so far:

A: ♣4. Both Souths led the clear-cut singleton club, but only one side beat the contract.

____________________♠ 10 8
____________________♥ 10 7 2
____________________♦ 10 9 4
____________________♣ A 8 7 6 5

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

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

North wins with the ♣A. What should he do next? At the other table, South made the mistake of delivering an immediate club ruff. It was no longer possible to score two defensive heart tricks and the game was made.

Here, Brink switched to the ♥10. When declarer did not cover, Brink delivered the club ruff. The ♥A was then the setting trick.

Note that if declarer covers the ♥10 with the king, South must win and play two more rounds of hearts, forcing the dummy to ruff. There will then be no way for declarer to avoid a trump loser.

Your result so far: