Surfing the Net by Ben Norton

A: ♠6. You should prefer a major-suit lead to a minor suit on this type of auction, with West rating to have length in the minors. He didn’t use Stayman, after all. What’s more, a Spade lead is safer than a Diamond or a Club, from a higher honor, and you should be more inclined to lead passively here, with all of the suits breaking badly for declarer.

A Spade lead was the only one to trouble the contract. Partner had the ♣A and ♠K-x-x over dummy’s ♠A-x-x. Your side would come to two Spades, a Diamond and two Clubs on this line of defense. A minor-suit attack would give away a crucial tempo.

Your result so far:

A: ♣9. No, the conditions are perfect to lead your singleton. You have small trumps with which to ruff and can expect partner to have a few entries to give you those ruffs, having opened the bidding. A Diamond lead might set up some tricks, but they’re unlikely to all stand up.

A Club lead was indeed necessary to take your ruffs and set the game.

Your result so far:

A: ♣10. Clubs rates to be partner’s minor, so why not go looking for a ruff there? Indeed, it may be necessary to set up your tricks quickly, and more of your winners rate to stand up in Clubs than in Spades. A Spade lead might even surrender a trick, whereas a Club is very unlikely to.

A Club was the only lead to set the contract. Partner had ♣A-K-x-x-x and would give you an immediate Club ruff. Partner also had the ♦K sitting over the ♦A for the fourth trick. Any other lead could surrender the contract if declarer picked the trumps (♥K-10-x in dummy opposite ♥A-J-9-8-x-x).

Your result so far:

A: ♥A. You probably have at most one natural trump trick beneath West’s length, so you would be pleased to score a couple of ruffs. What’s more, laying down the ♥A will afford you a look at dummy before you continue, which is better than guessing which minor to lead.

The ♥A was the only winning lead on the full hand, enabling you to score Heart ruffs with your small trumps.

Your result so far:

A: ♠K. The ♠K is perfectly safe. West is unlikely to have as many as three Spades, and even if he has ♠J-x-x, the trump lead might not cost, preventing ruffs in dummy. More likely, the ♠K will give declarer nothing he couldn’t take for himself.

The problem with a Diamond lead is that it might pick up partner’s honors for declarer. Remember, all the opposition strength is concentrated on your right, so declarer will struggle to reach dummy to take his finesses. A side-suit lead could potentially give him an extra entry.

Virtue will have to be its own reward on this hand. A Diamond lead was necessary so that partner could win and shift to his singleton Heart, thereby paving the way for a Heart ruff (!) for the setting trick.

Your result so far: