Leads Quiz 243 by David

A: ♦9. It was clear to lead the ♦9 after North had bid the suit, but only one team managed to beat the contract.

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

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

Bertheau led the ♦9 to partner's ace. A club switch now would have resulted in a club ruff for one down. Hult (North) preferred to return the ♦J, hoping that partner had a singleton diamond. Declarer was then able to draw trumps and make the game.

The missing diamond was the ♦5, but if declarer had ♦65, he might well have contributed the 6 at trick one, hoping to mislead North.

Your result so far:

A: ♠5. Little could be achieved by leading the ♣K, and Z. Baldysz led a passive trump. This was the deal:

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

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

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

Declarer won with the ♠A and drew a second round with the king. She then cashed the ♥K Q J, overtaking the third round with the ace as North pitched a club. North pitched another club on the ♥10. When the last heart was played, North discarded a diamond from his 6 5 4. Mistake!

Declarer led the ♦J, covered by the king and ace. She then ruffed a club and returned to dummy's ♠Q. When she led the ♦8, there were only two diamonds out. She guessed to rise with the ♦Q and dropped the ♦10 to make the grand slam.

It was foolish of North to release a diamond when she still had two valueless clubs to throw.

Your result so far:

A: ♠A. Daniela von Arnim led the ♠A, after partner's double of 2♠ had suggested strength there. This was the deal:

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

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

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

What would you have led at trick two from the South cards?
It was difficult to find, but a heart switch was needed to beat the contract.

When South switched to a trump, Michael Byrne won with the queen. The ♣J was covered with the king and ace. The ♦10 to the jack allowed the ♣Q to be cashed. By very good fortune, a club ruff set up declarer's ♣8. He could then discard one of dummy's hearts and make 5♦.

Your result so far:

A: ♦3. Any lead has the potential to cost a trick. As the cards lie, only a club lead will give declarer the chance to make 4♥ against the 5-0 trump break. This was the deal:

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

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

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

A diamond lead did allow declarer to pick up the diamonds for three tricks, but it was not possible to set up the trump-coup ending to survive the bad trump break. The best lead was maybe the ♠A.

Your result so far:

A: ♥2. It was obvious to lead a heart, and this should have beaten the game. One table allowed it to make.

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

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

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

Levin, the declarer, won the ♥Q with the king, continuing with the ace and king of diamonds. When North showed out, he needed four club tricks. Would this be possible, with no side-entry to dummy left? Yes! Because Mesbur (North) had mistakenly thrown a club on the second round of diamonds.

North had to cover the second club honor from dummy. Declarer could then win with the ace and return to dummy to score the thirteenth card in the suit.

Your result so far: