[luke warm]

some more opening leads from ewen's book

the bidding:

(1♥) P (2♦) P
(3♦) P (3♥) P
(4NT) P (5♦) P
(6♥)

hand 1
♠T9843
♥875
♦A6
♣Q62

hand 2
♠A83
♥K94
♦874
♣J832

hand 3
♠63
♥952
♦A876
♣6532

your lead... why?

[cherdano]

Let's start with the easiest:

Spoiler

Hand 3: ♦A, partner can ruff the second round unless they have weird methods or a 10-card heart fit.
Hand 1: ♣2. I have one and only one chance to set up a black suit trick. In clubs, ♣K with partner is enough, in spades chances are bad (partner needs KQ or K with A in dummy, and the chance of a shortness somewhere are bigger)
Hand 2: ♠A. Now or declarer's spades will have been pitched on dummies diamonds (which are almost certainly running).

[Walddk]

Hand 1: ♣2. Will try to set up a club trick while I control diamonds. I need too much in spades from partner for that to be right (alternatively only king if the ace is in dummy). But even then, declarer may have a singleton. Club lead offers the best chance imo, especially because I have many spades and fewer clubs.

Hand 2: ♠A. Declarer has a spade control, else he wouldn't have bid Blackwood before cue bidding, but that could well be a singleton, and his spade loser may go away if has Hx in clubs opposite HHx. 1-6-4-2 shape. Let's hope ♥K is off side for him.

Hand 3:: ♦A. Stands out a mile. I know I can give partner a ruff unless they have 10 hearts between them (unlikely).

Roland

[Walddk]

I now see that Cherdano has hidden his text. I apologise if everyone was supposed to do that, but I can't see that it is recommended in luke warm's post.

Roland

[Chamaco]

luke warm, on May 8 2005, 09:52 PM, said:

your lead... why?

Spoiler

Hand 1

Of course a black suit lead. Certainly not the Diamond ace, setting up their suit for discards.
But, is it better the spades Ten or a low club ?

This auction suggests an aggressive lead, I'll try a low club, although I know a spade lead is safer.


Hand 2

I have no diamonds stopped, I'll try spade Ace before declarer can discard spades.


Hand 3

Opps have 8 cards in diamonds, I have 4, Ace of diamond and a diamond should give pard a ruff.

[Fluffy]

it seems everyone agrees here, any BIL to try?

[luke warm]

yayus, everyone is 'zactly right, and for right reasons... on hand one, hope pard has the ♣K (he can't have a whole lot of anything)... on hand 2, the ♠A does stand out, with (most likely) a 2nd spade... and on hand 3, playing for the ruff is pretty much marked

on the hidden text thingy, it doesn't matter to me... i guess if you consider yourself advanced or higher it's probably better to hide the answers.. the purpose of these problems, apart from the fun of them, is to give folks an idea of the thinking processes... i'll do another, but i hope for more bil participation