Very little help

[Walddk]

[hv=d=e&v=n&s=s873h1042dj106cj974]133|100|Scoring: MP[/hv]

 

RHO opens 1NT (12-14), pass, pass, and partner doubles. You trust him to have a very good hand, sitting under declarer, so you leave it in. Correct decision in my opinion.

 

What do you lead?

 

Roland

[hotShot]

4♣

[kfgauss]

I don't share your philosophy with respect to what double shows here, but I think of doubles of weak notrumps as "values" instead of "penalty" and only expect 14/15+.

 

As for the lead, I like ♦J. It's safe (either partner has an honor, in which case we've done well, or I haven't blown anything as it's only tripleton) and, I think, the most promising lead I have as well. I don't know what the rest of our system over 1NT is, but if double doesn't tend to contain hands with one or both majors, then I'm more likely to be hitting partner's suit too than if I led one of those.

 

Andy

[Walddk]

I don't share your philosophy with respect to what double shows here, but I think of doubles of weak notrumps as "values" instead of "penalty" and only expect 14/15+.

I would expect a bit more, especially at IMPs, when I'm not on lead and where my double therefore is "positionally wrong". But strange things happen at pairs. And this is indeed MP.

 

I think there is, and should be, a difference between penalty doubles of 1NT, depending on whether you are over or under declarer.

 

Roland

[kenrexford]

♥2. If partner is marginal, he has the majors.

[Free]

I like ♦J, it seems so obvious that it'll probably be wrong... ;)

[cherdano]

I like ♦J, it seems so obvious that it'll probably be wrong... ;)

My thoughts exactly.

[paulg]

I like ♦J, it seems so obvious that it'll probably be wrong...  ;)

My thoughts exactly.

And mine ;)

[luke warm]

i like 2C because partner is playing my system where x shows c and d or d only ;)

[pclayton]

With a big major 2 suiter (and even a single suiter), I hope pard would make some two suited overcall. Doubling doesn't pay on these type of hands. Furthermore, LHO didn't run from 1N x'd, so I expect that 1N will be touch and go.

 

Pard rates to be somewhat balanced; or has one or both minors. Logically, that minor is diamonds. I'm concerned the points are spread, 2, 6, 18, 14 around the table. I don't think a passive defense is indicated, and I think we need to hit pard at T1.

 

So I try a ♦.

[P_Marlowe]

Jack of diamond, I want to

go as safe as possible

 

Partners dbl was in pass out,

i.e. it does not promise the same

strength as indirect seat, but he

holds it, ... looking at my hand

 

And I would have passed too, no

place to hide, and depending on

methods, we wont be able to play

2C, ... and 1NT X= is just 180,

compare this to 1NT XX=, or -2X,

cheap.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[hotShot]

♥2.  If partner is marginal, he has the majors.

Playing weak NT, a lot of those hands with 7-8 card in the majors are opend 1NT.

Additionaly responder must be stronger to answer. So responders will not bid or transfer a weak 5 card major hand nor will bid stayman to show 4 card major length if he's not strong enough.

So it is far from sure that your partner has a 4 card major at all.

 

Opener could hold

[hv=s=skjxxhaqxxdxxckjx]133|100|[/hv]

Responder would pass holding [hv=s=skjxxhaqxxdxxckjx]133|100|[/hv]

[Finch]

There are two possible hands for dummy:

i) a balanced 8 count or so, in which case it's making

ii) a balanced very weak hand. A long suit would have bid.

 

If it matters much what we lead, it sounds as if everyone is balanced.

 

I think it is very close between a club and a diamond. It's not much of a suit, but if partner has 4 of them we definitely want to lead one. If partner has 3 of them it won't be fatal leading one, because they are likely 4333 and declarer may have to duck a round anyway.

[Salokin]

♦J;

 

I will most often lead a minor after this bidding because

with some majorlength Pd might have tried to bid.

 

I choose D because i dont hope that we are in a hurry to come

to our tricks.

 

In my thinking Pd must not have any extras because of

"under Opener". In deed i think Pd could be trying to protect

me haveing 13-14 HCP BAL.

But anyway with a BAL hand (ie no 5+ suit) i have allways to stay;

(if we cant beat it we will most often go down (probaly doubled) in some

unklear fit (sometime 4/2 in Clubs :-).

 

Salokin

[bid_em_up]

Personally, I dont agree with the decision to leave the X in. LHO rates to hold an 8-10 count, and you should be thanking your lucky stars that you are not defending 1N xx'd making, usually with an overtrick. Since this is a lead problem, I will go on the assumption that if you dont find the right lead, that 1N x'd makes, which is another indication that leaving the X in was not the best choice here (not my original phrasing, but changed after deciding it was too harsh) :). It will be relatively easy for declarer to play 1N now, since most of the cards are now marked in partners hand and he will play accordingly.

 

That said, the lead choice is tough, any lead could be right. I dont like the ♦J, as it may give up too many tricks in the diamond suit if dummy hits with Q9xxx, K98xx or similar. I dont like leading any club either, because it may lead partner to think I actually have an entry somewhere (even though he should be able to tell from his hand and dummy that I dont) and real interest in the club suit.

 

Since partner has doubled, and has the entries, lets try to find his suit instead. Partner was probably prepared to bid 2H or 2S over our running from 1N x'd. The one lead that I think is likely to help partner the most is the ♥10 in case partner holds 5-6 hearts to the KJ9 and dummy holds Qx or Qxx. Otherwise, partner may find himself continually endplayed and will never be able to clear the heart suit to take enough tricks to set the contract before declarer takes his 7-8 tricks. Since this is the only holding where my lead is likely to make a difference, the heart 10 it is.

 

As always, jmoo.

 

[Edit]: After further reflection, a spade lead may also work as it is the one suit that my hand does not contain any honor card. Given that the opps are usually prepared (or at least think they are) to handle a spade lead against an auction of this nature, I will stick with my original choice of the ♥10.

Edited April 19, 2006 by bid_em_up

[EricK]

♦J

 

I'm not going to give any lengthy rationalisation, it just looks right. I can't see any reason to prefer one major over the other, or either major over the ♦. A ♣ might work, but if partner has ♣ length as well, responder to 1NT is more likely to have an unbalanced hand and so mightn't have left 1NT in.

[whereagles]

I'll try a club. It's very likely pard will have something to help me in that suit.