[jdeegan]

Scoring: IMP

2♣-P-2♦-P
2NT-P-3♦-P
4♥-P-5♦-P
6♥-P-P-P

---

Playing IMP pairs against world class opponents. Match is close. Teammates are good pair.

[rogerclee]

I'd try a spade, seems better than a club.

[PhantomSac]

I'd lead a cleeeeeee

[bftboy]

I lead ♣ 9. P didn't x for a ♦, and a trump is silly. Odds are against P holding ♠ Q, so I'll hope to score the ♠ K later, perhaps along with a trick somewhere else.

[gwnn]

underlead those honours!

[effervesce]

Against small slams in a suit, usually an aggressive lead in an unbid suit is best. See Benito Garozzo "games may be quietly defended, but slams must be ATTACKED." (exceptions for 6NT and 7x where a passive lead would often be best).

[lmilne]

I'd lead spade I think, maybe the top one even has some merit

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

trump is out, and so is a diamond, that leaves spades or clubs.

I would go with a spade, we need to develop our tricks fast otherwise
they are gone on the diamonds.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[pooltuna]

PhantomSac, on Feb 27 2010, 04:03 AM, said:

I'd lead a cleeeeeee

did anyone else "roger that"

[jdeegan]

♦ or ♣

Leading the ♥ is out since it could roll up the suit.

A ♠ is nearly as bad, if not worse. RHO has the ♠ ace and 22+ HCP - so, leading around into the possible wheel is BAD, esp. when I have FIVE ♠. Neither opponent has advertised a long suit other than ♥, so a passive defense should be OK. Leading a ♠, I would be playing pard for the ♠ queen plus an entry - if the entry is an ace, then they have only 31 HCP. If it is an offside king (probably the ♦ king) then what's the hurry? RHO has a balanced hand. Wait on the ♠ trick and hope for the best.

♥ and ♠ leads are clear errors, but I don't see too much to choose between the other two suits. On the actual hand, the ♠ was the ONLY lead to allow the contract to make.

[Siegmund]

I voted small club but don't really care which size club it is. I hate leading from K-T into the strong balanced hand; even the heart rates to be better than that if you ask me (after the superaccept I don't expect there to be a heart loser to blow.)

Of course I am used to the fact that the most aggressive lead in sight always wins in a lead-vs-slam poll even when it doesnt work at the table

Edited to add: if 5♦ is a second suit rather than a cuebid, I'll change my vote to the spade; there may be a slew of pitches on a 2nd running suit.

[mcphee]

I can only assume the guy has H and D so I would be very concerned a possible S trick might fly. So I will go along with the clear error and lead a S.

[gwnn]

jdeegan, on Feb 28 2010, 02:39 AM, said:

♦ or ♣

Leading the ♥ is out since it could roll up the suit.

A ♠ is nearly as bad, if not worse. RHO has the ♠ ace and 22+ HCP - so, leading around into the possible wheel is BAD, esp. when I have FIVE ♠. Neither opponent has advertised a long suit other than ♥, so a passive defense should be OK. Leading a ♠, I would be playing pard for the ♠ queen plus an entry - if the entry is an ace, then they have only 31 HCP. If it is an offside king (probably the ♦ king) then what's the hurry? RHO has a balanced hand. Wait on the ♠ trick and hope for the best.

♥ and ♠ leads are clear errors, but I don't see too much to choose between the other two suits. On the actual hand, the ♠ was the ONLY lead to allow the contract to make.

im sorry maybe i didnt understand were you looking for advice or looking forward to lecturing the whole forums? either way is fine but it's usually better if you pre-alert.

[655321]

Spade.

Siegmund, on Feb 27 2010, 10:24 PM, said:

Of course I am used to the fact that the most aggressive lead in sight always wins in a lead-vs-slam poll even when it doesnt work at the table

Hmm. Sure, there are always exceptions, but as a general rule, good players make the most aggressive lead against slams. And as a general rule, bad players never make aggressive leads against slams.

You could decide that these are two equally valid schools of thought, or (as a shortcut, without even needing to understand the issues) you could decide that experts are more likely to be right than bad players...

[Pict]

I voted club.

I would often want to lead a spade on established principles with this holding, but the 2NT swings me against it. Interesting to see that there is still a very strong vote for the spade.

[jdeegan]

gwnn, on Feb 28 2010, 08:45 AM, said:

jdeegan, on Feb 28 2010, 02:39 AM, said:

♦ or ♣

Leading the ♥ is out since it could roll up the suit.
 
A ♠ is nearly as bad, if not worse.  RHO has the ♠ ace and 22+ HCP - so, leading around into the possible wheel is BAD, esp. when I have FIVE ♠.  Neither opponent has advertised a long suit other than ♥, so a passive defense should be OK. Leading a ♠, I would be playing pard for the ♠ queen plus an entry - if the entry is an ace, then they have only 31 HCP.  If it is an offside king (probably the ♦ king) then what's the hurry?  RHO has a balanced hand.  Wait on the ♠ trick and hope for the best.

♥ and ♠ leads are clear errors, but I don't see too much to choose between the other two suits.  On the actual hand, the ♠ was the ONLY lead to allow the contract to make.

im sorry maybe i didnt understand were you looking for advice or looking forward to lecturing the whole forums? either way is fine but it's usually better if you pre-alert.

Sry. Next time I will pre-alert. Just trying to gauge the quality of commentators. It seems they are well-read, but not very well-educated.

♠ leaders might consider buying Mike Lawrence's CD's on bidding and play for a few hundred bucks. One of them teaches about opening leads. You learn a checklist to consider which includes evaluating the auction, counting the outstanding HCP's, etc. Why spent the time to pursue a hobby unless you know what you are doing?

[rogerclee]

jdeegan, on Feb 28 2010, 11:01 AM, said:

Sry. Next time I will pre-alert. Just trying to gauge the quality of commentators. It seems they are well-read, but not very bright.

you are a joke

[jdeegan]

rogerclee, on Feb 28 2010, 01:20 PM, said:

jdeegan, on Feb 28 2010, 11:01 AM, said:

Sry. Next time I will pre-alert.  Just trying to gauge the quality of commentators. 

you are a joke

Right. My original post was a bit harsh. True enough, but not very constructive.

[georgeac]

jdeegan, on Feb 28 2010, 02:39 AM, said:

Why spent the time to pursue a hobby unless you know what you are doing?

isnt that why people pick up a hobby in the first place. to have fun and get better. why pick up playing guitar unless you know what you are doing?

[lmilne]

jdeegan, on Feb 28 2010, 01:01 PM, said:

gwnn, on Feb 28 2010, 08:45 AM, said:

jdeegan, on Feb 28 2010, 02:39 AM, said:

♦ or ♣

Leading the ♥ is out since it could roll up the suit.
 
A ♠ is nearly as bad, if not worse.  RHO has the ♠ ace and 22+ HCP - so, leading around into the possible wheel is BAD, esp. when I have FIVE ♠.  Neither opponent has advertised a long suit other than ♥, so a passive defense should be OK. Leading a ♠, I would be playing pard for the ♠ queen plus an entry - if the entry is an ace, then they have only 31 HCP.  If it is an offside king (probably the ♦ king) then what's the hurry?  RHO has a balanced hand.  Wait on the ♠ trick and hope for the best.

♥ and ♠ leads are clear errors, but I don't see too much to choose between the other two suits.  On the actual hand, the ♠ was the ONLY lead to allow the contract to make.

im sorry maybe i didnt understand were you looking for advice or looking forward to lecturing the whole forums? either way is fine but it's usually better if you pre-alert.

Sry. Next time I will pre-alert. Just trying to gauge the quality of commentators. It seems they are well-read, but not very well-educated.

♠ leaders might consider buying Mike Lawrence's CD's on bidding and play for a few hundred bucks. One of them teaches about opening leads. You learn a checklist to consider which includes evaluating the auction, counting the outstanding HCP's, etc. Why spent the time to pursue a hobby unless you know what you are doing?

whats with all the smiley faces followed by insulting a ton of players who (you would think) have reasons for their plays?

btw no one cares what the result on the hand was, that is completely irrelevant. run a sim, maybe someone will listen. i couldn't care less whether best play results in a contract going down. i'm interested in playing best bridge.