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 Leads Quiz 252 by David

As always, you will be South, leading towards a contract played by East.

The interest may be not only in the opening lead, but perhaps in the subsequent defense or declarer play.

Question 1

  Your Hand
♠ A 8
♥ Q J 9 2
♦ K J 10 9
♣ K 5 2 		 
Q: 1 - What will you lead against 3NT here?
SouthWestNorthEast
1♦DblePass3♣
Pass3♦Pass3NT
All Pass


 Your choice:
A: ♥Q. Since you have bid diamonds, it is better to lead a heart. You must now try to make the contract from the East seat. This is the deal:

♠  Q J 9

♥  A K 3

♦  A 8 5 2

♣  A 8 7

♠  10 7 6 5 3 2

♥  10 6 5

♦  7 4 3

♣  6

♠  A 8

♥  Q J 9 2

♦  K J 10 9

♣  K 5 2

♠  K 4

♥  8 7 4

♦  Q 6

♣  Q J 10 9 4 3

Take the East cards. How will you play 3NT when the ♥Q is led?

You must duck the first trick, as we will see. You win the next heart and play a low club to the queen. If South takes this trick, you will make easily. Let's say that he ducks. You run the ♣J and play a club to the ace.

Your aim now is to endplay South to lead away from the ♦K. You play the ♠Q and South ducks again. Now you play dummy's remaining heart honor and play a spade to the King and Ace. South can cash a good heart, but he must then lead away from the ♦K, giving you a ninth (and tenth) trick.


Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 2

  Your Hand
♠ J 10 9 6
♥ Q 9 2
♦ J 10 8 6
♣ 9 4 		 
Q: 2 - What will you lead against 3NT?
SouthWestNorthEast
---2NT
Pass3NTAll Pass


 Your choice:
A: ♠J. There are two reasons to lead a spade rather than a diamond. The suit is slightly stronger, and it is a major (West did not bid Stayman).

♠  K 8 3

♥  8 6 3

♦  K Q 5 2

♣  7 5 2

♠  7 5 2

♥  J 10 7 4

♦  A

♣  Q J 10 8 3

♠  J 10 9 6

♥  Q 9 2

♦  J 10 8 6

♣  9 4

♠  A Q 4

♥  A K 5

♦  9 7 4 3

♣  A K 6

Take the East cards now. How will you play 3NT, as safely as possible, when the ♠J is led?

You have seven tricks outside diamonds, and little hope of any more from those three suits. You must therefore seek two tricks from the diamond suit. This will be easy if South holds the ♦A. If North has the ace, there is a safety play to guard against it being a singleton.

After winning the first trick, you should duck a round of diamonds. Here, the ace will appear. If not, you can lead twice towards the ♦K Q 5 then.


Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 3

  Your Hand
♠ J 8 7 5 4
♥ 6 4
♦ 8 7 5 4
♣ 10 5 		 
Q: 3 - What will you lead against 6♦, on this deal played in the 1980s?
SouthWestNorthEast
-1♥Pass1♠
Pass3♣Pass3♦
Pass4♦Pass5♦
Pass6♦All Pass


 Your choice:
A: ♦4. South chose to lead a trump. You must take the North cards now and plan the defense. This was the deal:

♠ 

♥  A K J 10 9 2

♦  A J 3

♣  A 7 6 2

♠  A 9 3

♥  Q 8 7 3

♦  6 2

♣  Q J 9 3

♠  J 8 7 5 4

♥  6 4

♦  8 7 5 4

♣  10 5

♠  K Q 10 6 2

♥  5

♦  K Q 10 9

♣  K 8 4

Declarer won the trump lead in his hand and finessed the ♥J. What is your plan for the defense, sitting North?

If you win with the ♥Q, declarer will score five heart tricks and easily make the slam. John Lowenthal (North) found the excellent defense of ducking, and the slam could no longer be made.


Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 4

  Your Hand
♠ 8
♥ A K 9 6 4 3
♦ 8 5 4
♣ 9 7 2 		 
Q: 4 - What will you lead against 4♠ here?
SouthWestNorthEast
---1♠
Pass3♠Pass4♠
All Pass


 Your choice:
A: ♥A. It is clear to lead the heart ace, but how will you continue the defense? This was the deal:

♠  A J 6 3

♥  8

♦  Q 10 7 6

♣  Q 10 8 3

♠  9 2

♥  J 10 7 2

♦  A K J

♣  J 6 5 4

♠  8

♥  A K 9 6 4 3

♦  8 5 4

♣  9 7 2

♠  K Q 10 7 5 4

♥  Q 5

♦  9 3 2

♣  A K

You lead the ♥A, drawing the 8, 10 and 5. What will you lead at trick two, and why?

You and your partner can see that a heart continuation would be fruitless. So, an attitude signal would be worthless. Partner should instead give a suit-preference signal. The ♥10, a high heart, asks for the higher of the remaining side-suits. You switch to a diamond and the contract is beaten.


Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 5

  Your Hand
♠ J 4 3
♥ 10 3
♦ 9 7 5 2
♣ K 8 5 3 		 
Q: 5 - What will you lead against 4♠?
SouthWestNorthEast
--1♥Dble
Pass2♦Pass2♠
Pass3♠Pass4♠
All Pass


 Your choice:
A: ♥10. It is clear to lead the suit that your partner has bid. Further defense is needed to beat the contract. Stay with the South cards. This is the deal:

♠  8 6 5

♥  J 6 5

♦  A Q J 3

♣  7 6 2

♠  9

♥  A K Q 9 7

♦  10 6 4

♣  Q J 10 9

♠  J 4 3

♥  10 3

♦  9 7 5 2

♣  K 8 5 3

♠  A K Q 10 7 2

♥  8 4 2

♦  K 8

♣  A 4

You lead the ♥10. Your partner wins with the queen and plays the ♥A K, declarer following. What is your plan for the defense?

You can see that a fourth round of hearts will promote your ♠J. Unless you can do something clever, partner will switch to the ♣Q and the game will be made.

On the third round of hearts, you must follow with a discouraging ♣3. Partner will realize that you do not want a club. They will play a fourth round of hearts, for one down.


Your result so far:
Open Question

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