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The killing lead?


Walddk

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Unfortunately there is no bell ringing inside your head to tell you when you have to be alert. So this lead problem would probably only be a challenge on paper. Let's just pretend that you have one and take it from there.

 

[hv=d=s&v=n&s=s6h643dqj74ca10983]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

You are South first in hand, you pass, and listen to this auction by a pick-up EW partnership:

 

1 - 1

2 - 4

6 - pass

 

What do you lead, and why?

 

Roland

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My instinct lead is A, and there are certainly layouts where it is necessary: Give dummy AKQ, declarer some random 3 cards in the round suits, and partner a trump trick.

 

Unless we can cash two tricks immediately, I do need a spade or heart trick from partner, otherwise declarer has 11 or 12 tricks in the majors immediately (7 spades and 4-5 hearts). So A still looks like a good bet to me. Of course, if partner has the hearts locked up, declarer may not have enough discards for his clubs, and a trump could make sense. Or maybe dummy has Hxx AKQxxx Kxxx -, and we have to take our two diamond tricks...

 

Hmm. A.

 

Arend

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Unfortunately there is no bell ringing inside your head to tell you when you have to be alert. So this lead problem would probably only be a challenge on paper. Let's just pretend that you have one and take it from there.

 

[hv=d=s&v=n&s=s6h643dqj74ca10983]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

You are South first in hand, you pass, and listen to this auction by a pick-up EW partnership:

 

1 - 1

2 - 4

6 - pass

 

What do you lead, and why?

 

Roland

Well I would underlead my club ace trying to start tapping dummy. Dummy's Hearts are probably strong and he should be 3550 shape for this auction (or is playing poker with me and winning). I am hoping partner has a slow trump trick like Qxx and the tap creates handling problems for declarer. I probably should give this more thought, but I think the club underlead is the normal defense...

 

Josh

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[hv=d=s&v=n&n=s9752hjdk53cj7542&w=saha109852da862ckq&e=skqj10843hkq7d109c6&s=s6h643dqj74ca10983]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

South pass, then

1 - 1

2 - 4

6 - pass

 

No wonder none of you could find the killing lead: a . A lead you may find if you get it as a problem, never at the table. Interesting position on the heart lead. In a way declarer has 14 top tricks. However, he can't get back to his hand after unblocking A without suffering a heart ruff.

 

This and A will beat the slam.

 

Roland

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[hv=d=s&v=n&n=s9752hjdk53cj7542&w=saha109852da862ckq&e=skqj10843hkq7d109c6&s=s6h643dqj74ca10983]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

South pass, then

1 - 1

2 - 4

6 - pass

 

No wonder none of you could find the killing lead: a . A lead you may find if you get it as a problem, never at the table. Interesting position on the heart lead. In a way declarer has 14 top tricks. However, he can't get back to his hand after unblocking A without suffering a heart ruff.

 

This and A will beat the slam.

 

Roland

I am sure that Reese and Schapiro would find the killing lead. :huh:

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