Leads against 3NT

[Finch]

I asked you what to lead on two different auctions to the same 3NT contract

 

http://forums.bridgebase.com/index.php?showtopic=15963

http://forums.bridgebase.com/index.php?showtopic=15964

 

Here's the full layout and what happened at both tables.

[hv=d=e&v=n&n=skxxhq1098xdaj8xcx&w=s10xxhaxxd10xxcj9xx&e=sjxxhkjxxdqxxcaxx&s=saqxxhxdk9xckq10xx]399|300|Scoring: Total Points[/hv]

 

Table 1

1NT (11-14) 2D (S+?) P 3D (3-card raise in S)

P 3NT all pass

 

dummy's slow pass of 3NT was a concern over whether 4H or 4S (in the 4-3 fit) or 5D if partner's suit might play better.

 

At the table West led his 4th highest club to East's ace. East returned a club, and after much consideration my partner (declarer) put in the C10. That lost, but West did not find the immediate heart switch and we were +600. Declarer was cold after the club to the ace and a club in various ways, e.g. by winning the club cashing 3 spades and exiting in hearts which endplays whoever wins.

 

After a top heart lead you need to switch to spades to beat it by force, else declarer can set up hearts. After a low heart lead I think partner also needs to switch to spades to beat it by force although possibly a low club will also do.

 

table 2

P 1C P 1H

P 1S P 2D (not FG)

P 3NT all pass

 

All the diamond leaders have let it through at once. And I did warn you that dummy would try and organise things not to play the hand so the diamond layout isn't that much of a surprise!

 

My team-mate led the ace of hearts, but then switched (fatally) to a club. Declarer could now just concede a diamond trick and the defence couldn't get at their heart tricks.

 

Conclusion

Just another flat board....

[hatchett]

Declarer was cold after the club to the ace and a club in various ways, e.g. by winning the club cashing 3 spades and exiting in hearts which endplays whoever wins.

 

After a club to the A you can make it but three rounds of ♠s and a heart does not endplay east. He wins the J and exits with his third ♣.

[Finch]

Well, I have forgotten all the analysis I did at the time, but I do remember checking it on Deep Finesse and

- you have to lead a heart to beat it

- after the ace of hearts lead you have to switch to a spade to beat it.

 

I shall leave it to you to work out the details!

[hatchett]

after the ace of hearts lead you have to switch to a spade to beat it.

 

Not good enough. Win the ♠SK and play the ♦J. You can't be stopped from winning 4♠, 4♦ and 1♣.

 

Looks icy on any lead to me.

[sfbp]

If you follow the other thread you may notice that I advocate non 4th best leads (Paul Marston was right, I say). In particular the middle card from three to the J or better, and high from a small doubleton (assuming it's an unbid suit). I can speculate on reasons, but when someone does it to ME, part of the strength of leading a middle card is that it defies all known rules for working out what was led, and declarer gets it (and the overall play of the hand) wrong. This topic has not yet been alluded to.

 

I have been seeing this for months now, and the data that appear to be emerging from BRidgeBRowser despite certain individuals' best attempt to squelch them now appear to support my view.

 

I'm really happy if you don't believe me.

 

(note added in proof: it seems that heart to J and optional heart back allows whatever switch to beat it by either player, rather than the guess-and-die approach of ♥A and jump-off-a-cliff)

[Finch]

After heart to the Jack and a heart back surely it makes easily?

[sfbp]

I came (very) late to this but at first sight is pretty tuff for declarer if partner switches to a club at trick 2.

[sfbp]

After heart to the Jack and a heart back surely it makes easily?

Ok i set it up in DF

 

Initially it makes. After heart to J and club back, declarer now must make the brilliant play of leading the JD. It's not good enough to play the spades off, he has to do it before knowing if the spades break.

 

So not so easy.